In a significant development in a high-value cyber fraud case, the Patiala police have arrested two individuals from Thane, Maharashtra, for allegedly duping a retired Punjab IPS officer of ₹8.1 crore. The police have also seized over 500 SIM cards believed to have been used in the elaborate scam.
Breakthrough in the Organised Cyber Fraud Network
The arrests, made this week, mark the first major custodial action in the case. According to the police, the accused were part of a sophisticated organised cyber fraud network. The identity of the arrested persons has not been disclosed yet, as investigations are ongoing.
Senior Superintendent of Police, Patiala, Varun Sharma, confirmed the breakthrough. “Two arrests have been made in this case from Mumbai’s Thane area, and more than 500 SIM cards have been recovered. Further investigation is underway,” Sharma stated.
Modus Operandi: Fake Platforms and SIM Cards
The accused allegedly used multiple SIM cards to operate fake investment platforms and communicate with their victims. This method allowed them to create a veil of anonymity and scale their operations. The police investigation had initially pointed towards cyber fraud links based in Maharashtra, prompting teams to be sent outside Punjab to trace the culprits.
Earlier, the police had frozen 25 bank accounts connected to suspicious transactions. These accounts were either used by the retired officer, Amar Singh Chahal, or were shared with him through a WhatsApp group named ‘F777 DBS Group’, which promoted online investments. Investigators found that one of these frozen accounts contained nearly ₹3 crore.
The Victim's Ordeal and Recovery
The case came to light after the victim, retired Inspector General of Police Amar Singh Chahal, attempted suicide at his Patiala residence on December 22, following the fraud. He suffered a gunshot injury near his heart and was rushed to Park Hospital in Patiala. Doctors performed surgery to repair damage to his lung, and his condition has since stabilised.
A First Information Report (FIR) was registered on December 23. In a positive update, Chahal released a video message from the hospital on Tuesday, assuring his well-wishers of his recovery. “I am fine now. With the grace of God, progress is happening. Because of the risk of infection, visitors are not allowed. Thank you all for your best wishes. We will meet soon…,” he said.
Ongoing Investigation and Wider Implications
The seizure of over 500 SIM cards highlights the extensive and organised nature of the cyber fraud operation. Such large-scale seizures are crucial in dismantling networks that rely on disposable communication channels to evade detection. The Patiala police's interstate operation underscores the growing challenge of cybercrime that transcends regional boundaries and the coordinated efforts required to combat it.
The case continues to be under active investigation, with authorities looking to uncover more details about the network's reach and other potential victims.
