In a shocking incident, SP Oswal, a Padma Bhushan awardee and renowned textile industrialist, fell victim to a well-organized scam that cost him Rs 7 crore. The fraudsters, posing as CBI officers, executed a sophisticated scheme involving a fake online Supreme Court hearing, arrest warrants, and two days of “digital surveillance.”
The scam came to light on August 31 when Oswal filed a complaint with the Ludhiana police. Following the investigation, police arrested two members of the interstate gang in Guwahati, Assam, while efforts are underway to trace the remaining seven perpetrators across Assam, West Bengal, and Delhi.
Utilizing advanced digital tactics, the fraudsters informed Oswal that he was under investigation by the Enforcement Directorate. They threatened him with counterfeit arrest warrants, convincing him that a Supreme Court order necessitated a transfer of Rs 7 crore to a “Secret Supervision Account.”
The deception escalated to the point where they orchestrated an online hearing, with someone impersonating Chief Justice DY Chandrachud. They later sent Oswal a forged court order via WhatsApp.
Despite the extensive fraud, authorities successfully recovered Rs 5.25 crore, which was returned to Oswal’s bank accounts. The Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre confirmed this as one of the largest recoveries in the country related to such cybercrimes.
This incident underscores the increasing sophistication of cyberattacks, highlighting the urgent need for enhanced awareness and cybersecurity measures to protect individuals, even those of high stature.
Earlier, two other suspects associated with the gang, Manmath Das, a personal assistant to a minister, and Prafulla Deka, a peon, were arrested. They allegedly aided the gang by providing access passes to the Janata Bhawan in Dispur, charging Rs. 500 to Rs. 1000 for each pass, using the minister’s seal for legitimacy.
