Fake SC hearings, fake documents: Ludhiana man duped of Rs 7 crore in sophisticated cyber fraud
In a shocking case of cybercrime, a Ludhiana resident was defrauded of Rs 7 crore by individuals impersonating Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) officials and forging Supreme Court documents.
The Punjab and Haryana High Court was told that the fraudsters, using sophisticated tactics, coerced the complainant into transferring funds by creating fake court orders, arrest warrants, and even staging a virtual hearing impersonating the then Chief Justice of India, Justice DY Chandrachud.
The matter surfaced before Justice Mahabir Singh Sindhu's Bench after an accused filed a bail plea. The FIR in the matter was registered at the Cyber Crime police station in Ludhiana.
Among other things, the complainant alleged that unknown persons committed cybercrime by impersonating government/ED officials and committed the fraud of Rs 7 crore.
The Bench, during the course of the hearing, was told: "The petitioner has orchestrated a sophisticated cybercrime scheme involving the creation and dissemination of forged documents purportedly issued by the Supreme Court of India, Enforcement Directorate, and CBI."
The Bench was told that the fraud began on August 27, 2024, when the complainant received a call from someone claiming to be from the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), threatening to disconnect his mobile number. The scammers then impersonated CBI officials, shared fake investigation documents, and even staged a virtual court hearing to convince him to transfer Rs 7 crore into designated bank accounts.
Referring to the increasing trend of cyber fraud in India, Justice Sindhu cited data from the Reserve Bank of India that revealed losses of Rs. 3,207 crore due to 5.82 lakh cases of cyber fraud between FY 2020 and FY 2024.
After going through the argument and the documents, Justice Sindhu asserted: "It clearly reveals that the petitioner along with other co-accused has defrauded the complainant to the tune of Rs 7 crore and also forged the order of the Supreme Court. Apart from that, a fake arrest order purported to have been issued by the E.D was also shown to the de-facto complainant and coerced him for transferring the alleged amount. It is noteworthy that instances of cyber-fraud are increasing day by day."
