A search warrant has been issued against renowned celebrity hairstylist Jawed Habib and his son Anos Habib in connection with a multi-crore cryptocurrency investment fraud that allegedly duped over a hundred investors across Uttar Pradesh’s Sambhal district. The duo is accused of running a massive Bitcoin and Binance coin investment racket under the banner of Follicle Global Company (FLC) promising unrealistic returns between 50 to 75 per cent before allegedly vanishing with investor funds amounting to Rs 5–7 crore.
Acting on multiple complaints, a police team led by Sub-Inspector Pavitra Parmar from Sambhal reached Habib’s Delhi residence in New Friends Colony armed with a court-issued search warrant. However, Habib was not present at the location. His brother Amjad Habib informed police officials that the hairstylist had not been staying there for some time. The team conducted a 30-minute search operation, seizing potential evidence before returning to Sambhal.
Confirming the development, Superintendent of Police (SP) Krishna Kumar Bishnoi said that the investigation is expanding. “Jawed Habib was not found at his Delhi residence, but the police will now search his Mumbai property. The team will seize all relevant documents and proceed with necessary legal steps to question him,” SP Bishnoi stated.
The SP further indicated that Habib’s Mumbai salon network and corporate offices could soon face inspection, with property seizure likely if substantial evidence of financial fraud is uncovered.
The ongoing probe stems from 33 FIRs filed against Habib, his son, and the company’s local head Saifullah (also referred to as Saiful). According to police reports, the accused lured unsuspecting investors through public events and promotional seminars.
One such gathering, held in 2023 at Royal Palace Venkat Hall in Sambhal’s Sarayateen area, featured glitzy presentations on cryptocurrency investments, where attendees were promised exponential profits.
#WATCH | Sambhal, Uttar Pradesh | A team of Sambhal Police today visited the residence of hair stylist Jawed Habib in Sambhal in connection with case registered against him. https://t.co/KPDTzFsjGZ pic.twitter.com/wzcNdl2ycs
— ANI (@ANI) October 15, 2025
Over 150 individuals, many of them small-town professionals and traders, reportedly invested sums ranging from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 7 lakh each, totaling an estimated Rs 5–7 crore. When no returns were received within the promised one-year period, victims began filing complaints.
By the time the investors approached the authorities, Habib, his son, and their associates had allegedly shut down Follicle Global Company’s operations and gone underground. The firm, which initially marketed itself as a “global financial innovation platform,” is now under investigation for financial fraud, criminal breach of trust, and conspiracy.
Police sources revealed that Habib was summoned for questioning on October 12, but failed to appear. Instead, his lawyer Pawan Kumar submitted documents citing the hairstylist’s “poor health” as the reason for non-attendance a claim the police have dismissed as “unacceptable.”
SP Bishnoi said the investigation uncovered a web of deceit involving not only Habib and his son but also Saifullah, who initially approached the police claiming to be a victim but was later found to be a co-conspirator.
“A few months ago, a man named Saiful came to my office alleging he was defrauded by Habib. But further investigation revealed he himself, along with Habib and others, had conned over a hundred investors,” Bishnoi stated.
#WATCH | Sambhal, UP: Krishna Kumar Bishnoi, Sambhal SP says, "A few months ago, a man named Saiful came to my office in Sambhal district and submitted an application, stating that he had been defrauded by Jawed Habib and others. However, upon further investigation, it was… pic.twitter.com/q4kY2bbwpg
— ANI (@ANI) October 9, 2025
The SP confirmed that police have served notices under Section 91 of the CrPC to all accused, demanding their appearance in the investigation. Failure to comply will lead to property seizure under financial fraud provisions of Section 107 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNSS).
Authorities are also considering invoking the Gangster Act, a stringent law typically used against organized crime and habitual offenders, to ensure seizure of movable and immovable assets linked to the scam.
Investigators are probing whether the fraudulent investments were funneled through dummy cryptocurrency wallets and shell companies, potentially implicating more individuals.
The Sambhal police have intensified efforts to locate Habib and his son, who are believed to be moving between Delhi and Mumbai. Victims continue to approach the police with new complaints, with officials expecting the number of FIRs to rise.
“More than 50 victims have already contacted us, and 33 cases have been formally registered. The police are collecting documentary evidence and taking all possible steps to ensure justice for the victims,” SP Bishnoi said. Jawed Habib, one of India’s most recognizable hairstylists, runs a nationwide chain of salons and academies and has been a regular face at grooming seminars and TV shows.
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