Hyderabad: Fraudsters Impersonating Mumbai ATS Officials Extort ₹1.44 Crore from Retired Bank Manager
In a shocking case of cyber fraud, criminals posing as Mumbai Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) investigators have allegedly extorted ₹1.44 crore, the entire life savings of a 76-year-old retired bank manager from Hyderabad. The fraudsters threatened to arrest him in a fabricated terror funding case, leading to a major police investigation.
Detailed Account of the Elaborate Scam
The retired Canara Bank manager received a call from an unknown number at 10:30 AM on January 17. The caller falsely claimed to be from the Mumbai ATS and alleged that a First Information Report (FIR) had been registered against the victim for funding terrorism activities.
Subsequently, the call was transferred to multiple accomplices who introduced themselves as ATS investigators Sulek Kumar, Mukesh Verma, and Ajay Kumar Bansali, using different mobile numbers to enhance credibility. "They told me that my Aadhaar credentials had been misused to open multiple bank accounts linked to international terror operatives and that immediate verification of my bank accounts was essential to prove my innocence and clear my name," the victim stated in his police complaint.
Psychological Manipulation and Coercive Tactics
One of the fraudsters, impersonating Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Mukesh Verma, claimed the case was pending before the Supreme Court. He issued strict warnings to the septuagenarian, instructing him not to discuss the matter with family members, avoid searching online for information, and keep his phone switched on at all times.
In a further escalation of control, Verma coerced the victim into signing an undertaking. The retired manager printed the document, signed it, photographed it, and sent the image via WhatsApp to comply with the fraudsters' instructions.
Systematic Financial Drain and Eventual Realization
Following the accused's detailed instructions, the victim transferred ₹1.44 crore in 13 separate transactions to different bank accounts provided by the criminals between January 28 and February 19. The fraudsters initially promised Supreme Court clearance by February 19.
However, when they demanded an additional ₹17 lakh instead of providing the promised clearance, the victim finally recognized the deception. He immediately approached the Cyberabad cyber crime police on Tuesday, filing a formal complaint that triggered a comprehensive investigation.
Legal Action and Police Response
Based on the victim's detailed complaint, Cyberabad cyber crime police have registered a case and launched an intensive probe to identify and apprehend the offenders. The case has been filed under multiple sections of the newly implemented Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, along with relevant sections of the Information Technology Act.
The charges include:
- Section 204 (Personating a public servant)
- Section 308(2) (Extortion punishment)
- Section 318(4) (Cheating)
- Section 319(2) (Cheating by personation)
- Section 335 (Making a false document)
- Section 338 (Forgery of valuable security, will, etc)
- Section 336(3) (Forgery for purpose of cheating)
- Section 340(2) (Using as genuine a forged document or electronic record) read with Section 3(5) (Common intention)
- Sections 66-C and 66-D of the Information Technology Act
This case highlights the sophisticated methods employed by cyber criminals targeting elderly citizens and the urgent need for enhanced public awareness about such impersonation scams.
