In a shocking case of digital fraud, police have arrested two individuals from Punjab for scamming an 85-year-old retired Major General out of Rs83 lakh. The fraud was executed through a sophisticated scheme that involved posing as law enforcement officials.
The suspects, identified as Mukesh Kumar Singla from Muktsar and Suman Rani from Tilak Nagar, Ludhiana, targeted Maj Gen Prabodh Chander Puri on October 15. They claimed that a phone number registered in his name was being used in Delhi’s Connaught Place to threaten individuals, resulting in a supposed “digital arrest” for the elderly officer.
Puri, a resident of Sector 20, Panchkula, was misled into believing that he needed to deposit Rs83 lakh, which would be returned if it was determined that the funds were not stolen. During the call, the scammers connected him to what they claimed were officers from Delhi Police’s cyber cell and even a representative from the Central Bureau of Investigation.
Believing the fraudulent narrative, Puri transferred the substantial amount, only to later realize he had fallen victim to a scam. Following his complaint, a case was registered at the cyber crime police station, prompting a thorough investigation.
According to Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Manpreet Singh Sudan, the suspects were apprehended after withdrawing a significant portion of the stolen funds from an ATM in Punjab. He explained that the fraudsters randomly dialed numbers to identify potential targets, employing a series of questions to ascertain the victim’s vulnerability and financial information.
After their arrest on Monday, Singla was placed in judicial custody by a local court, while Rani was remanded to police custody for two days.
ACP Sudan cautioned the public, stating, “There is no such thing as a digital arrest as per law. People must avoid answering video calls from unknown numbers at all costs.”