Mumbai man cheats Chandigarh Sec 26 bank, arrested

Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, January 28

The Cyber Cell of the Chandigarh Police has arrested a Mumbai resident for cheating a bank by transferring Rs 9.90 lakh, impersonating as the Director, Charisma Gold Wheels (P) Ltd.

The suspect has been identified as Tabarik Hussain Shaikh (32). He was arrested from Mumbai on January 26. The police said Tabarik’s accomplice Jubair had transferred the money to his bank account, which was withdrawn the same day.

According to the police, Jagmohan Singh Sandhu, Branch Manager, Punjab National Bank, Sector 26, had reported that on July 16, 2019, Anurag, a clerk, received a WhatsApp message on his mobile phone from the suspect who introduced himself as Karan Hoon, Director, Charisma Gold Wheels (P) Ltd, to inquire about the rate of interest on FDR of Rs 10 crore for 5 years.

Accordingly, Anurag sent the rate of interest through WhatsApp. A few hours later, Anurag received a call from the same number. The caller claimed that he wants to remit Rs 9.90 lakh through RTGS from his account. The caller claimed as he is out of station, he is sending the cheque number through WhatsApp. He requested to send the RTGS and assured that the cheque will be sent to them later on. Relying on the communication and keeping in view the status of the company, the transaction was made.

“While making the transaction, it was found that the cheque number mentioned had already been cleared, following which Anurag called back and the caller gave him another cheque number and the transaction was made,” said a police official.

Later, the bank received a communication from M/S Charisma Gold Wheels (P) Ltd informing that they had not given any direction for remittance of amount from their account.

PNB officials realised that a fraud had taken place. They managed to hold Rs 5.10 lakh through Axis Bank as the account in which the money was transferred was of Axis Bank.

During investigation, it was found that the remaining amount was transferred to the current account of the suspect, who managed to withdraw Rs 4.80 lakh on the same day before his account was put on hold.

The police said Tabarik was produced before a court today which sent him to two-day police remand.