Panchkula Police Makes Two More Arrests in High-Value ₹2.98 Crore Cyber Fraud Case
In a significant development, the Panchkula Police cyber crime team has arrested two additional accused in a sophisticated cyber fraud case involving an elderly woman who was cheated of a staggering ₹2.98 crore. With these latest arrests, the total number of individuals apprehended in this case has now risen to three, as confirmed by police officials on Sunday.
Details of the Arrests and Accused
The two accused, identified as Ajay and Ram, both natives of Mathura district in Uttar Pradesh, were arrested on January 24. They were living in a rented accommodation in Mohali at the time of their arrest. Following their apprehension, they were produced before a local court, which granted the police a four-day remand for further interrogation.
This case first came to light when the police arrested Nitin Singhal, a resident of East Delhi, on January 15 following a raid in the national capital. Approximately ₹17 lakh of the defrauded amount was discovered in his bank account. After the completion of his police remand, he was subsequently sent to judicial custody.
Modus Operandi of the Cyber Fraud
The elaborate scam began on December 4 when the elderly woman, a resident of Chandigarh, received a phone call from an individual posing as a telecom company employee. The caller threatened her with disconnection of services, creating an immediate sense of urgency and fear.
The call was then transferred to persons impersonating senior officials and even a CBI officer, who falsely accused the woman of involvement in large-scale money laundering activities. To add credibility to their threats, the fraudsters:
- Sent photographs to the victim
- Claimed she was under "house arrest"
- Threatened harm to her children if she disclosed the matter to anyone
On December 5, the scammers took their deception to another level by producing the woman before a fake courtroom via video call—a tactic now being referred to as "digital arrest." Under this intense psychological pressure, the victim transferred ₹2.98 crore to multiple bank accounts as instructed by the fraudsters.
How the Investigation Unfolded
Interestingly, the fraudsters initially transferred ₹7 lakh—a portion of the cheated amount—into the woman's bank account after luring her with promises of benefits under the Prime Minister’s Jan Dhan Yojana and obtaining her bank-related documents. It was this transaction that eventually led investigators to her residence.
When police reached her home acting on the transaction trail, the woman narrated her harrowing ordeal and provided crucial details about the accused, which directly led to the arrests of Ajay and Ram. Investigators are now intensively questioning the duo to trace the entire network and follow the complex money trail.
Preliminary investigations have revealed that the cheated money was routed through multiple bank accounts, a deliberate strategy employed by the fraudsters to complicate recovery efforts and obscure the identification of the entire racket.
Separate Cyber Crime Development in Chandigarh
In a related but separate development, the Chandigarh Police Cyber Crime Cell has arrested a fourth accused in an organized credit card fraud racket. The accused, Sushil Kaushik, 40, of Vijay Vihar, Rohini (Delhi), was arrested on January 22 from Haridwar.
According to police officials, Kaushik arranged bank accounts and SIM cards using forged documents for a fake call-centre operation that duped victims by impersonating American Express credit card officials. Further investigation is currently underway to identify other associates, trace the kingpin, and recover the cheated amounts in this separate case.
Broader Implications and Public Awareness
This case highlights the increasingly sophisticated methods employed by cyber criminals, particularly targeting vulnerable elderly citizens. The use of psychological manipulation, fake official personas, and even fabricated courtroom scenarios represents a new level of deception in digital fraud schemes.
Authorities emphasize the importance of public awareness and caution when receiving unsolicited calls, especially those involving threats or promises of financial benefits. The victim in this case eventually suspected fraud when the perpetrators made further demands, prompting her to report the matter to the 1930 cyber helpline—a crucial step that initiated the investigation.
As cyber crimes continue to evolve in complexity, law enforcement agencies are strengthening their capabilities to combat such sophisticated fraud networks and protect citizens from financial exploitation.
