In a significant development, the Hamirpur police in Himachal Pradesh have arrested an absconding accused from Uttar Pradesh, marking a crucial breakthrough in a 2022 online fraud case involving a substantial sum of Rs 16.33 lakh.
The 2022 Fraud Case: Details and Registration
The case traces back to September 7, 2022, when a complaint was filed at the Sadar Hamirpur police station. The complainant, Jagjit Singh Sodhi, a resident of Hamirpur, alleged that a massive amount of Rs 16.33 lakh was fraudulently transferred from his bank account to several other accounts on different dates. Based on his complaint, a formal case was registered for extortion, cheating, forgery, and criminal conspiracy.
Balbir Singh, the Superintendent of Police (SP) for Hamirpur, provided the details. A chargesheet against four accused individuals was subsequently filed in the case on September 30, 2022.
Technical Surveillance Leads to Arrest
During the investigation, it was uncovered that a portion of the defrauded money, specifically Rs 2 lakh, was transferred to an IDFC Bank account belonging to one of the accused, identified as Mohammad Irfan, on September 25, 2022. Irfan, a resident of Dariyabad in Barabanki, Uttar Pradesh, had been evading arrest since the incident came to light.
Utilising technical surveillance and intelligence, a police team successfully tracked him down to his village. The long-awaited arrest was made on January 3. Following his arrest, Irfan was produced before a local court, and the police obtained his remand for further interrogation.
Police Warning on Rising Cyber Crimes
Commenting on the arrest, SP Balbir Singh highlighted the increasing threat of cyber fraud. He issued a stern warning to the public, urging citizens to exercise extreme caution with their personal and financial information online.
The police official strongly advised people not to share sensitive details like bank account information, OTPs, or passwords on any unknown links or unverified digital platforms. This arrest serves as a reminder of the persistent efforts by law enforcement to tackle cybercrime, even as perpetrators attempt to hide across state borders.
