Patiala Police probe multi-state network in ex-IG fraud case

As the police close in on the accused in the cyber fraud case in which retired Inspector General (IG) Amar Singh Chahal was duped of Rs 8.10 crore, investigators are looking into the involvement of a multi-state network spanning Maharashtra, West Bengal, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.

The Patiala police have managed to stop transactions of around Rs 3 crore by freezing nearly 25 bank accounts linked to the accused. These were mule accounts and spread across multiple states. The accused were using these accounts to launder the illegally obtained money.

Patiala SSP Varun Sharma confirmed that all the frozen accounts were mule accounts — bank accounts typically opened in the names of illiterate persons or individuals from economically weaker sections, who are lured or coerced into allowing their accounts to be used for illegal transactions. “The raids are continuing, and the accused will be arrested soon,” he said.

Investigations have revealed that the fraudsters siphoned money from the former IG’s bank account into multiple mule accounts to evade detection. After analysing banking trails and carrying out technical surveillance, the Patiala police coordinated with the banks concerned to freeze the funds. The police have also not ruled out the possibility that the accused were operating from illegal call centres.

Chahal had claimed that he was duped by Rajat Verma, who allegedly posed as the MD and CEO of a private bank. Chahal, in a note, had said he was encouraged to invest after seeing that other members of a social media group were also investing for higher returns.

It has come to light that the retired IG had borrowed Rs 2.5 crore after the cyber fraudsters demanded the amount as “tax” for releasing a supposed holding of Rs 5 crore. Besides this, he allegedly paid Rs 20 lakh in the name of premium membership and Rs 1 lakh as a bribe. But he could not get a single penny in return.

The retired officer allegedly shot himself on December 22 after realising that he had been defrauded. Preliminary investigations revealed that Chahal did not report the matter to the police before taking the extreme step. According to doctors, Chahal suffered multiple rib fractures and a large tear in his left lung, with the bullet passing dangerously close to his heart. He is stated to be stable. The police are likely to record his statement at the hospital on Sunday.