Three more held for Panchkula Rs 4.47L ‘work from home’ cyber fraud

The police arrested three more accused in connection with a “work from home” cyber fraud case. With this, the total number of arrests in the case has risen to four.

The complainant, a Panchkula resident, had reported that on May 28 she received a work-from-home offer on WhatsApp from an unknown number. She was later added to a Telegram group where she was lured with promises of high returns on investments. Over time, she was duped of a total of Rs 4.47 lakh in multiple instalments.

Realising the fraud, she promptly approached the Cybercrime Police Station, where a case was registered under Sections 316(2), 318(4) and 61 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. The investigation is being conducted by Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Brijesh Dwari.

According to Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP, Crime) Manpreet Singh Sudan, the first accused, Rhythm, a resident of Mauli Jagran, Chandigarh, was arrested on September 16. He was remanded to police custody for five days by the court.

Based on crucial information obtained during interrogation, three more suspects were apprehended on September 20: Abhay, son of Sanjay from Manimajra, Chandigarh; Anshu, son of Sanjay from Sector 29, Panchkula; and Piyush, son of Bablu from Sector 7, Panchkula. They were produced before the court on Sunday and placed on three-day police remand. Today, the accused Rhythm was sent to judicial custody.

The DCP further added that cybercrime is among the fastest-growing categories of offences, and tracking down the culprits remains a challenge.

However, he emphasised that the police are committed not only to bringing offenders to justice but also to spreading cyber awareness. He also urged citizens to remain cautious, avoid falling prey to greed, and refrain from investing through suspicious links or groups.