In a major breakthrough, Puducherry Cyber Crime Police arrested Pondu Sankara Rao from Andhra Pradesh in connection with an elaborate online fraud that duped a city resident of Rs 9.69 lakh.
The scam began in January when the victim received a call from fraudsters claiming to be law enforcement officials. They alleged that the victim’s Aadhaar number and mobile were linked to drug trafficking activities in Taiwan. Under the pretext of a non-existent “digital arrest,” they warned him not to leave his home and coerced him into transferring all his savings to a bank account, citing it as part of an investigation.
Terrified, the victim transferred Rs 9.69 lakh, believing it would spare him from legal consequences. Based on his complaint, a case was registered under four sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Section 66(D) of the Information Technology Act, 2000.
Under the guidance of Senior Superintendent of Police (Law & Order) Nithya Radhakrishnan, investigators tracked the fraudulent trail. The money had been deposited in Pondu Sankara Rao’s account and later withdrawn via cheques. The accused and his associates were traced to Kurnool district in Telangana.
A special team led by Inspectors Thiyagarajan and Keerthi, under the supervision of S. Bascarene, apprehended Rao in Visakhapatnam. Authorities recovered Rs 9.5 lakh in cash, a mobile phone, and several cheque books. Rao was produced before the Chief Judicial Magistrate and sent to judicial custody.
SSP Nithya Radhakrishnan warned the public about rising cyber scams involving fake claims of digital arrests. “These fraudsters often impersonate officials from the CBI, ED, or police, using fake scenarios involving illegal parcels or drug links. Digital arrest is not recognized under Indian law,” she emphasized.
She further cautioned against responding to suspicious calls, especially those claiming misuse of Aadhaar or SIM cards. “Never share bank or personal details with strangers. These details can be misused f
