PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/Dehradun
The Uttarakhand Special Task Force (STF) arrested a Bengaluru resident for allegedly duping a senior citizen from Dehradun and a Nainital resident of Rs 87 lakh in two separate cases through a digital arrest scam. The accused, Kiran Kumar KS, was apprehended on November 9, from his residence in Yelahanka, Bengaluru North, following an investigation into fraudulent bank accounts used in the scam. Another accused, Rajeshwari Rani, a resident of Tamil Nadu, was also named in the case for her connection to the accounts used in the fraud. The senior superintendent of police of STF Navneet Singh Bhullar said that the scam involved cyber criminals posing as Mumbai Police, CBI, or other officials and contacting victims through WhatsApp calls, videos and messages. They threatened victims with legal action, claiming money laundering or criminal cases against them. Under this pressure, victims were coerced into transferring money into bank accounts controlled by the accused and their associates. He said that the investigation revealed that the accused used multiple bank accounts and mobile numbers to carry out the scam. The total suspicious transactions linked to the accounts exceeded Rs nine crore across the country while the amount extorted from the Dehradun and Nainital victims alone amounted to Rs 87 lakh. During the arrest, the STF recovered mobile phones, SIM cards, a laptop and bank documents from Kumar. The SSP informed that Kumar has been placed under a six-day transit remand for further interrogation. Notices were also issued to Rani under Section 35(3) BNSS. Bhullar warned the public not to respond to calls from unknown numbers claiming to be government officials or threatening digital arrest. He urged citizens to verify any suspicious messages and report financial fraud immediately to the nearest cyber crime police station or via cybecrime.gov.in.
