Celebrity hairstylist Jawed Habib and his son Anos Habib have received temporary protection from arrest from the Allahabad High Court. They face allegations of running a ₹7 crore ($800,000) cryptocurrency scam through their firm, Follicle Global Company (FLC).
Over 33 FIRs accuse them of duping 100–400 investors with promises of 50–75% annual returns on Bitcoin (BTC) and Binance Coin (BNB) investments. The court’s order blocks arrest until a charge sheet is filed, giving them legal relief while investigations continue.
Authorities claim the Habibs used Jawed’s celebrity influence to lure investors at seminars in Sambhal and other cities. Investors reportedly deposited ₹2–20 lakh ($23,000–$230,000) but received no crypto or profits. Police are tracing funds through bank accounts and crypto wallets, with possible overseas links.
The family denies wrongdoing, saying Jawed only appeared as a paid guest at a seminar. Investigators continue to probe FLC’s operations amid rising crypto fraud in India, where losses from scams now exceed ₹10,000 crore (~$1.15B) in 2025.
Chargesheets are expected by December 2025. Victims demand restitution, while Habib’s salons face reputational fallout.
