Third accused arrested in Rs 10.81 lakh cyber fraud

The cyber crime unit of Panchkula police has arrested a third accused in connection with a cyber fraud case in which an elderly man was allegedly duped of Rs 10,81,285 on the pretext of lucrative returns from share trading. After seven days of police remand, the accused was produced before the court and remanded to judicial custody. Two other accused had earlier been sent to jail.

According to the police, the complainant, a resident of Pinjore, was contacted by unknown persons via phone calls and WhatsApp and persuaded to invest in share trading. A fake margin trading account was opened in his name, and he was induced to transfer substantial sums into various bank accounts in a phased manner. He was later misled through fabricated screenshots showing fictitious profits.

A case was registered on January 29 at the cyber crime police station, sector 20. Investigation revealed that the defrauded amount had been transferred to bank accounts in Gujarat. Earlier, two accused, Patel Nirav Kumar and Patel Kriti Kumar, were arrested and remanded to judicial custody.

Subsequently, the cyber team, led by ASI Brijesh, arrested Patel Mohneesh, son of Rameshbhai Patel, a resident of Kamalpur, Vadnagar (Gujarat). The police stated that the entire defrauded amount has been recovered and further investigation is underway to trace other associates.

The police have urged citizens not to trust unknown investment calls or links and to report cyber fraud immediately via the 1930 helpline or the cyber crime portal.