The ongoing probe into the alleged murder of corporate executive Yuvraj Singh Manchanda in Gurugram on September 6 has begun unravelling a much wider criminal web surrounding the accused partners, Aanya Vats and Sanyam Sachdeva. Investigators are examining whether Manchanda had stumbled upon critical details regarding the couple's illicit cyber fraud and extortion activities, prompting them to eliminate him to safeguard their operations.
Schoolmate Targeted with Fake Federal Notices and Massive Extortion
Evidence gathered during the inquiry reveals that the accused targeted people within their own trusted social circles. According to a First Information Report registered at the Parliament Street police station in August, Sachdeva targeted a former schoolmate who serves as a senior executive in a non-banking financial company affiliated with a public sector bank, defrauding him of over 1.2 crore rupees.
The ordeal commenced in September 2024 when the victim received a fraudulent summons over WhatsApp falsely bearing the name of the Enforcement Directorate. Exploiting the situation, Sachdeva and Vats claimed to possess extensive high-level contacts capable of resolving the issue quietly. Subsequently, forged notices under the name of the Union Home Ministry were delivered, threatening dire consequences under stringent laws including money laundering, NDPS, and UAPA. Terrified of legal repercussions, the victim transferred more than 1.2 crore rupees primarily into the bank account of Vats after exhausting personal savings, securing bank loans, and borrowing funds from relatives.
Demand for 26 Crore Rupees and Chilling Ultimatum
Even after pocketing over 1.2 crore rupees, the greed of the accused escalated. Vats allegedly demanded an additional sum of 26 crore rupees, asserting that 13.8 crore rupees had already been disbursed to government agencies to settle the allegations. When the victim struggled to produce further cash, a threatening WhatsApp message arrived, urging the victim to pay up by any means necessary, even stating that the individual should sell their own wife to clear the demanded amount.
Prior Domestic Abuse Allegations and Real Estate Fraud
Law enforcement authorities have also turned their attention to past disputes connected to Sachdeva's estranged wife. Allegations have surfaced involving fraud surrounding a property valued at approximately 4.5 crore rupees situated in Greater Noida. Furthermore, the estranged wife had previously lodged a formal complaint alleging domestic violence against Sachdeva, pointing to an established pattern of abusive and deceitful conduct.
Digital Forensics and Escape Route Under Scrutiny
To establish concrete forensic proof in the Manchanda homicide, police have dispatched the seized mobile handsets and electronic equipment recovered from both accused individuals for detailed forensic analysis. Digital analysts are determining whether searches were conducted on search engines regarding methods to dispose of a human body. Officers have also recovered the victim's car and an unlicensed firearm. In addition, the inquiry is tracing the exact movement of the duo, who stopped in Vrindavan while attempting to flee towards Uttarakhand following the crime.
