Did Kolkata Police Nab Three Alleged Cyber Fraudsters from Gujarat in Rs 78 Lakh Case?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- The Kolkata Police arrested three individuals for a cyber fraud case.
- An elderly woman was defrauded of Rs 78 lakh.
- The fraudsters posed as Mumbai police officers.
- The victim was coerced into transferring money under false pretenses.
- Authorities seized evidence from the arrested suspects.
Kolkata, Nov 20 (NationPress) The Kolkata Police have apprehended three individuals from Gujarat linked to a year-old cyber fraud incident involving an elderly woman from the city, who was swindled out of Rs 78 lakh, officials confirmed on Thursday.
The perpetrators impersonated Mumbai police officers, coercing the victim into making a payment by claiming she had dispatched a parcel to someone in Mumbai that contained illegal drugs.
The victim has been identified as Deepanwita Dhar, 61, a resident of the Maniktala neighborhood in north Kolkata.
In her report to the police filed on March 9, 2024, the woman recounted receiving an automated call informing her that a parcel she had ordered was canceled. Believing that her frequent online shopping led to some orders being canceled, she called the customer service number provided during the automated message.
The fraudsters then misled her into believing that 200 grams of illegal drugs were discovered in the parcel she had supposedly ordered, which was meant for a recipient named Zhang in Mumbai. She insisted that she had not sent any parcel to anyone.
Subsequently, the fraudsters claimed that the parcel was dispatched using her Aadhaar card, demanding that she deposit security funds with the Reserve Bank.
According to the police, the criminals also warned the victim against discussing the matter with anyone. Consequently, the elderly woman, with assistance from her driver, transferred Rs 78 lakh 30 thousand to the accused's bank account between March 12 and 13, 2024. It is reported that she even withdrew funds from her fixed deposit.
In her complaint, she stated that the accused, masquerading as Mumbai Police officers, pressured her for the money and sent counterfeit documents allegedly from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
Following her complaint, the Kolkata Police conducted a comprehensive investigation, leading to the arrest of three suspects: Baru Ravikant Gokal Bhai, Sondarbha Jilesh Narendrabhai, and Chandera Vipul Kumar Kanabhai, all residents of Gujarat.
Authorities also seized mobile phones and bank passbooks from the detained individuals, as stated by the police.