A shocking case of fraud has come to light in Kanpur, where a couple from Swaroop Nagar allegedly duped people of nearly ?35 crore by promising to make 65-year-olds look 25 again using an Israel-made machine.
The accused, Rajiv Kumar and his wife Rashmi Dubey, launched an organization called "Revival Word" in Saket Nagar to carry out the scam. According to the victim, Renu Singh Chandel, the couple convinced people that Israeli scientists had successfully rejuvenated 35 elderly individuals—aged 64 and above—by giving them pure oxygen in a pressurized chamber for five days. They claimed that the process made them appear 25 years old within three months.
For more than a year, the couple lured hundreds of people into their scam, even invoking the name of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to make their claims more convincing.
The fraudsters, operating out of an "Any Time Gym" franchise in Swaroop Nagar, Kanpur, would tell their clients that Prime Minister Modi’s energy and ability to work long hours were due to a secret age-reversing technology from Israel.
"How does Modiji remain so energetic, working 20 hours a day and always glowing?" they would ask. They claimed that Modi had used oxygen therapy to reverse his aging process, leading many to believe in the effectiveness of their so-called therapy.
The couple charged unsuspecting victims between ?50,000 and ?2 lakh, promising miraculous results through what they described as cutting-edge Israeli technology. Using network marketing tactics, they added more than 500 people to their fraudulent scheme. Victims were told that they would receive treatment with an "Israeli time machine," supposedly valued at ?25 crores, which would make them young again.
However, it was later revealed that the so-called time machine was nothing more than a crude apparatus built from junk materials worth just ?2.5 lakh. The scam caused significant harm to many of the victims. Some reported severe side effects, including facial burns and the appearance of white marks on their skin.
How the Scam Unfolded
According to Renu Singh Chandel, a whistleblower in the case, the couple operated out of Flat No. 10 of Prabhu Mahila Apartment, where they ran the gym franchise. The couple showed photos and videos claiming that Israeli scientists had conducted successful research in which 35 elderly individuals were treated with pure oxygen in a pressurized chamber for five days a week. After three months, they said, these individuals' organs and skin had transformed to resemble those of people in their mid-20s. By showing these fake visuals, the couple managed to gain the trust of their clients.
The couple reportedly introduced two investment schemes, one costing ?6,000 and another ?90,000, under the pretext that the funds would be used to purchase the rejuvenation machine from Israel for ?25 crore.
Additionally, they promised lucrative rewards for those who recruited others into the scheme, with gift hampers for anyone who provided 50 new IDs.
Renu Singh said she invested ?9 lakh for 150 IDs and another ?3.5 lakh to expand the business. The couple initially promised her a return of ?3.5 lakh and ?2.1 lakh within a year, but after a year, they only returned ?1.75 lakh. When asked about the remaining amount, the couple assured her that the plant would soon start operating.
Over time, it became clear that the couple had taken nearly ?35 crore from various individuals under false pretext. After realizing the scale of the scam, Renu lodged a complaint with Police Commissioner Akhil Kumar.
The Kidwai Nagar Police have now registered a report on the Police Commissioner's orders, with investigations underway.
