The Commissionerate police have arrested a man from Rajasthan for allegedly duping a city-based postal officer out of Rs11.80 lakh by posing as an official from the Department of Telecommunications (DoT).
The accused, identified as 24-year-old Kishore Rana from Jodhpur, orchestrated a sophisticated scam. Commissioner of Police (CP) Sanjeeb Panda revealed that the victim received a call on June 7 from someone claiming to be a telecom department officer. The caller informed him that the Mumbai Police were investigating 28 complaints linked to his phone number, which was allegedly associated with a money laundering case involving former Jet Airways chairman Naresh Goyal, who was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in September 2023.
To heighten the victim’s anxiety, the caller then connected him via video call to a fake police officer, who presented a bogus arrest warrant. The scammers exploited the victim’s fear, demanding his bank and property details, and insisted on a ₹11.80 lakh security deposit, promising to return the money within seven days once he was cleared in court. Believing the ruse, the victim transferred the amount in two installments.
When the victim failed to receive his money back and found the phone used for the call was switched off, he lodged a complaint with the police.
CP Panda confirmed that Kishore Rana was arrested after he withdrew the amount using a cheque. Investigations are underway to locate two other accomplices believed to be part of the gang. “A financial investigation has begun, and we suspect their involvement in similar frauds across other states,” he stated, adding thatRs1.16 lakh in the gang’s bank account has been frozen.
