Face2News/Chandigarh
In a significant breakthrough, the Police Station Cyber Crime of the Chandigarh Police has apprehended three individuals involved in Cyber fraud through Digital arrest scam, spearheaded by Inspector Rohitash Yadav, SHO, PS- Cyber Crime, relentlessly pursued the case registered under FIR No. Case FIR No. 66, dated 05.07.2024 U/S 319(2), 318 (4), 338, 336 (3), 340 (2), 61 (2), 111 (1), 111 (3) BNS 2023, PS- Cyber Crime, UT, Chandigarh.
The accused identified as Mahendra Nai S/o Meh Ram R/o Vill. Kathoti, PS-Jayal, District Nagour (Rajasthan), Age 27 Years, Poonam Chand S/o Ram Kuwar R/o Vill. Kathoti, PS-Jayal, District Nagour (Rajasthan) Age 25 Years, and Sandeep Kumar S/o Banwari Lal R/o Vill. Palthana, PS-Dadiya, Distt- Sikar (Rajasthan), Age 27 Years
The investigation was initiated following a complaint lodged by Pratipal Kaur, resident of House No. 268, Sector 11 A, Chandigarh, who fell victim to a digital arrest scam. The complainant reported that she received a call from someone claiming to be from the Crime Branch, Mumbai Police.
The caller said that a mobile number issued on her Aadhaar card was used by Mr. Naresh Goel for money laundering. He further stated that there were 24 complaints registered against this number, making her the prime suspect, and that she would be arrested soon. He claimed this was a preliminary inquiry and asked her to deposit eighty lakh rupees ( 80,00,000/-) in a secret surveillance account, assuring her that the amount would be refunded if she was found innocent.
The caller then instructed her to download the Skype app and sent her an order copy with information against Naresh Goel for illegal activities. They directed her via Skype to isolate herself from her family in a separate room without informing anyone. She complied.
On July 2, 2024, they provided her with a bank account number via WhatsApp for the money deposit. Shocked and panicked, she deposited 80,31,764.32 in the given account. Later, she realized that she had been defrauded by unknown persons.
Upon technical analysis, the accused Mahendra Nai, Poonam Chand, and Sandeep Kumar were arrested in Nagaur and Sikar, Rajasthan, and one SIM card was recovered. Further investigation is ongoing.