The Panchkula Cyber Crime Police have apprehended a second accused, Nitish Kumar alias Johnny, in connection with a cyber fraud case involving nearly Rs18.79 lakh. Nitish, a resident of Jaspal Colony, Ludhiana, was produced before the court and remanded to judicial custody at Central Jail, Ambala.
The case began with a fraudulent Facebook advertisement promoting an online trading platform, which lured Jagmender Singh from Sector 12A, Panchkula. The victim was deceived into believing in high returns backed by fake SEBI certificates and was persuaded to download a counterfeit app named “Kotak QIB.” He was added to WhatsApp groups and coaxed into transferring large sums under the pretext of investing in IPOs and trading.
The fraudsters repeatedly threatened Jagmender with penalties and legal action whenever he tried to withdraw funds, forcing continued payments.
Following a complaint on June 19, police filed charges under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Nitish Kumar was arrested on July 2 and revealed during questioning that he procured and supplied bank accounts to the syndicate.
Earlier, on June 21, another accused, Vijay Kumar from Sonipat district, was arrested. Vijay’s accounts held around Rs1.37 lakh of the defrauded money, which he had received in exchange for a commission.
ASI Ravindra Kumar, the investigating officer, has been instrumental in the arrests. DCP Srishti Gupta warned the public to remain vigilant against cyber scams involving fake websites, apps, and investment schemes. She advised verifying the authenticity of offers and being cautious of promises of high returns, which are often red flags.
The investigation is ongoing to uncover the full extent of the fraud network.
