Vellore doctor gang rape: Juvenile gets 20-year imprisonment

Vellore doctor gang rape: Juvenile gets 20-year imprisonment

In January this year, the Fast Track Mahila Court convicted four persons and sentenced them to 20 years of imprisonment

Updated - February 19, 2025 05:25 pm IST - VELLORE

The Hindu Bureau

The POSCO Fast Track Court at the Combined Court Complex in Vellore has convicted a 17-year-old and sentenced him to 20 years of imprisonment in connection with a gang rape that took place here in March 2022.

Judge D. Sivakumar delivered the verdict, sentencing the teenager and imposing a fine of ₹23,000 on him.

In January this year, the Fast Track Mahila Court at the court complex convicted four persons and sentenced them to 20 years of imprisonment and imposed ₹25,000 fine each in connection with the case. The police said the five persons, including the juvenile, were involved in the crime that took place past midnight on March 16 three years ago.

The police said that a woman doctor from Bihar and her colleague, a native of Nagpur in Maharashtra, were returning after watching a film at a cinema hall in Katpadi. They hailed a share autorickshaw in which there were four other men.

Instead of taking them to their destination in Old Town via the Green Circle on the Chennai-Bengaluru Highway, the driver took them to Sathuvachari.

Parking the vehicle at a secluded spot near a burial ground, the accused assaulted the duo and three of them gang-raped the doctor. The accused also robbed them of ₹40,000 and two sovereigns of gold jewellery.

After the incident, the woman returned to Bihar and lodged a complaint online with the then Vellore Superintendent of Police, S. Rajesh Kannan, on March 22. Based on her complaint, a case was registered by the Vellore North police under various Sections of the Indian Penal Code (PIC) and Section 4 of the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013.

Subsequently, all the five accused were arrested. The four men were remanded in judicial custody while the teenager was sent to a correctional home. The stolen valuables were recovered from them.

Published - February 19, 2025 01:51 pm IST

City police warn public of rising cybercrimes through WhatsApp

City police warn public of rising cybercrimes through WhatsApp

Police say cybercriminals send phishing codes to people and hack their WhatsApp accounts; fraudsters then access contact list on phones and seek money from the victim’s friends and family citing emergencies; officers and VVIPs among victims

R. Sivaraman

CHENNAI  09.02.2025

With cybercrimes on the rise through WhatsApp, the Greater Chennai Police issued a public advisory urging caution.

Police warn that fraudsters are using phishing codes to gain access to contacts and exploit them for financial scams.

Recently, cybercriminals hacked the WhatsApp number of a Group-I officer and demanded money from those on his contact list.

A senior police officer said, “Recently, there have been complaints about a new type of fraud wherein WhatsApp accounts are hacked. Most of the victims are officers or VVIPs in the city. Some of them managed to solve it on their own while others sought our assistance.”

Initially, the hackers will forward a six-digit WhatsApp activation code.

“Later, someone will contact you, claiming that their six-digit WhatsApp activation code was sent to you by mistake, and they will ask you to forward the code to them,” the officer said.

Many unsuspecting people forward the activation code to fraudsters. “As soon as the fraudster receives the code, they will be able to hack your phone number, and create new WhatsApp business accounts. As a result, the victim’s WhatsApp account will be disabled,” he said.

Contacts too vulnerable

“Then, the fraudsters will send messages through the hacked WhatsApp number to your friends and family, claiming that you met with an accident or is in need of urgent medical assistance. They will ask for money, to be transferred to their bank account or through payment platforms such as GPay, PhonePe, or Paytm. In addition, they will ask your contacts for the WhatsApp activation code from their phones in an attempt to hack their WhatsApp accounts as well,” the police officer said.

‘Don’t share any code’

Greater Chennai Police Commissioner A. Arun said, “WhatsApp will never send an activation code to anyone other than the account owner. Do not share the activation code that you receive on your phone with anyone. If you receive a call from a suspicious number, immediately decline the call or block the number.”

He urged the people to report cybercrimes to helpline number 1930.

Four college students among five held for harassing, chasing women on ECR

Four college students among five held for harassing, chasing women on ECR 

TIMES NEWS NETWORK  01.02.2025

Chennai : The Kanathur police on Friday arrested five people including four college students for harassing and chasing a car carrying women on East Coast Road (ECR) last week. Police also seized two cars and said one of them sported a DMK flag. Police suspect the accused may have chased the vehicle believing it brushed against their car and caused damage, but said they were still investigating the motive. 

On Wednesday, a video surfaced showing several youths in an SUV, with DMK flag fluttering on the bonnet, chasing a car carrying three women, a baby and a man. Following the incident, a woman from Kanathur filed a complaint with the jurusdic tional police on Jan 26. She said she had gone to Muttukadu with her family for a long drive and was returning when she was chased by the men at 3 am. Police registered a case of obstruction, obscene language, causing damage to public property, intimidation, and violations under the Tamil Nadu Prevention of Atrocities on Women Act. Police gathered all CCTV camera footage from the area and five special teams l were formed to track the vehicle.

On Thursday, a man named Chandru, 25, was apprehended and based on his information, Santhosh, 28, Tamilkumaran, 21, Ashwin, 21, and Visves, 21, were arrested. Police are searching for three more suspects. On Friday, Pallikaranai deputy commissioner of police Karthikeyan told reporters four suspects were college students but clarified they were not affiliated to any political party. The DMK flag, he said, was used by the suspects to avoid detection by police and toll booths. The car used in the incident is owned by Chandru, who has pending criminal cases at two police stations.

Ex-Army man kills wife, boils body parts in pressure cooker in Telangana

Ex-Army man kills wife, boils body parts in pressure cooker in Telangana

A missing person complaint was filed by Madhavi’s mother, Uppala Subbamma, on January 18. She informed the police that her daughter had a quarrel with Gurumurthy around 8 am on January 16 over petty issues.

The accused, Gurumurthy, allegedly admitted to killing his wife, Puttavenkata Madhavi, 35, during questioning.

Express News Service

Updated on:

23 Jan 2025, 11:13 am

HYDERABAD: An ex-serviceman was arrested for allegedly murdering his wife, chopping her body into pieces, boiling the remains in a pressure cooker and dumping them in a lake in Jillelaguda, under the Meerpet police station limits.

According to police sources, the accused, Gurumurthy, allegedly admitted to killing his wife, Puttavenkata Madhavi, 35, during questioning. After killing her, he reportedly disposed of her remains in a nearby lake. Investigators are gathering additional evidence related to the case.

Meerpet Inspector K Nagaraju said that Gurumurthy and Madhavi had been married for 11 years and hailed from Prakasam district in Andhra Pradesh. Gurumurthy, who retired from Army, is currently working as a security guard in Kanchanbagh. The couple had been residing in Venkateshwara Colony, Jillelaguda, for five years.

A missing person complaint was filed by Madhavi’s mother, Uppala Subbamma, on January 18. She informed the police that her daughter had a quarrel with Gurumurthy around 8 am on January 16 over petty issues. Upset after the argument, Madhavi left their home around 12 pm the same day without informing anyone and did not return, the complaint said, adding that though their relatives and neighbours searched for Madhavi, she could not be found.

“The case is under investigation,” said Nagaraju.

Doctor dangerous? 10th grade pass-out ran a clinic for 3 years, treated 70-80 patients daily

Doctor dangerous? 10th grade pass-out ran a clinic for 3 years, treated 70-80 patients daily

etimes.in | Jan 21, 2025, 10.40 PM IST

In an alarming occurrence from Pandharpur, Maharashtra, an individual has been arrested for running a fake clinic for over three years without any medical qualifications. Dattatraya Sadashiv Pawar, a Class 10 pass-out, had been posing as a doctor and treating patients with serious conditions, including diabetes and bone disorders, all while lacking the necessary credentials to practice medicine.

A fraudulent medical practice

According to media sources, including the latest reports by News18 and Mathrubhumi(dot)com, Pawar, who had completed only a brief four-day training in Satara, used this limited knowledge to open his own clinic. For three years, he treated patients without any formal medical training or a valid license. Charging ₹500 per consultation, he was reportedly seeing 70–80 patients daily.

Expanding the fraudulent operations

Not satisfied with operating in Pandharpur alone, Pawar also extended his services to Shegaon, where he continued to pose as a qualified doctor. His clinic grew in popularity, with many locals trusting him for their medical needs, unaware of his lack of credentials.

Exposing the scamAccording to media reports, the truth behind Pawar’s illegal clinic finally came to light after concerned residents raised suspicions about his practices. The health department was alerted, and a raid was conducted with the help of local police and municipal authorities. It was during this raid that it was confirmed that Pawar had no medical license or proper qualifications, leading to his arrest and the closure of his clinic.

Ongoing investigations

As per sources, following the raid, the authorities have launched a full investigation to uncover the full extent of Pawar’s activities. Investigations are also underway to determine if other unlicensed practitioners are operating in the area.

This incident is a strong reminder of why it's so important to check a doctor's qualifications and stay alert to people pretending to be healthcare professionals. It shows the dangers of trusting unqualified practitioners and why we need stricter rules to ensure safety in medical care.

Scammers plant fake QR codes at MP shops to divert payments

Scammers plant fake QR codes at MP shops to divert payments 

QR CODE SCAM P.Naveen@timesofindia.com 15.01.2025

Bhopal : Digital scammers came up with a new tactic in the temple city of Khajuraho in Madhya Pradesh’s Chhatarpur district, replacing legitimate QR codes of around a dozen shops and a petrol pump with fakes. Payments made by customers were redirected to fraudsters’ accounts. The fraud came to the attention of authorities when traders, including Omvati Gupta, the operator of a medical store, reported suspicious payment issues. Gupta noticed that when a customer attempted to make a payment in the morning, the QR code displayed the name and account details of one ‘Chhotu Tiwari’ instead of hers. Gupta immediately replaced the fraudulent QR code with a new one and alerted the cops. At the petrol pump, the owner experienced issues with payments not being credited to his account. One of the traders in Narayan Market reported a loss of ₹985 and ₹1; the fraud was also detected at other locations, including Khajuraho Petrol Pump, Bade Bhaiya Paan Wale, and Rajesh Medical store. The total amount misappropriated is being verified. The shopkeepers removed the QR codes once they realised the scam. Khajuraho Police urged local businesses to remain vigilant and regularly inspect their QR code scanners.

Woman bites 61-yr-old hubby 12 times & throws acid on him, arrested

Woman bites 61-yr-old hubby 12 times & throws acid on him, arrested 

NISHATPURA TIMES NEWS NETWORK 03.01.2025

Bhopal : A 61-year-old man was allegedly brutally attacked by his wife in Vishwakarma Nagar in Nishatpura on Wednesday morning. The woman reportedly bit her husband in about a dozen places, scratched him severely with her nails, and hurled acid (toilet cleaner) on him during the altercation. While the acid did not touch his body, it damaged his clothes. Nishatpura police registered acase against the accused wife on charges of assault & attempted acid attack, & she was arrested. Investigation officer SI Shrikant Dwivedi said that the complainant, Narayan Lodhi, 61, a truck driver residing in Vishwakarma Nagar, was living with his second wife, 45-year-old Durga Lodhi. Durga has two daughters, aged 12 and 14, from her previous marriage. Narayan, due to his profession, usually visits home once or twice a week. 

SI Dwivedi said that on Wednesday morning, around 10 am, Narayan returned home with essential supplies, but a dispute erupted with his wife over missing items. The argument escalated, and Durga physically attacked him, biting him in multiple places and scratching him badly. Narayan tried to escape, but Durga threw acid at him. Fortunately, it hit his clothes, which were slightly burned. SI Dwivedi said that Narayan lodged a formal complaint with the police, stating that Durga is addicted to alcohol and has attacked him several times before. The police previously intervened and counselled the couple, but her behaviour did not improve. The police is investigating further.

28-year-old man duped of ₹16L in ‘work from home’ fraud

28-year-old man duped of ₹16L in ‘work from home’ fraud

TIMES NEWS NETWORK 01.01.2025

Ahmedabad : A 28-year old man from Thakkarbapanagar filed a complaint with Cybercrime police on Monday, stating that he was cheated of Rs 15.64 lakh in a ‘work from home’ fraud in July and Aug. According to the complainant, he received a call from an unknown man in the second week of July, offering him a work from home job. He was given the task of liking different web portals of various services and was promised remuneration for liking each service. He was then made to join a WhatsApp group where different tasks were assigned. “The fraudsters gained the complainant’s trust by asking him to submit ratings through a fake application under the pretext of completing tasks. Believing the scheme to be legiti mate, the complainant transferred Rs 15.64 lakh to various bank accounts provided by the scammers,” said a Cybercrime police officer. 

However, even after he paid the money, he was not given any remuneration and was repeatedly asked to pay more money. The complainant finally approached Cybercrime police and filed a complaint of cheating and breach of trust under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, along with charges under the Information Technology Act, and an investigation began

Pregnant minor accuses grandfather, dad of rape

Pregnant minor accuses grandfather, dad of rape 

Faiz.Siddiqui@timesofindia.com 28.12.2024

Kanpur : A 14-year-old girl from Auraiya has accused her grandfather, father and uncle of repeatedly raping her for about a year, police said. Acting on the complaint, police registered a case under Section 63 (rape) of the Pocso Act and arrested the accused on Thursday. Additional superintendent of police (ASP) Alok Mishra said, “The survivor accused her grandfather, father, and uncle of raping her for several months. Preliminary findings revealed that the girl is pregnant for two months. The named accused were arrested and presented before the court. They have been sent to jail.” The girl reached a nearby police station with her aunt on Thursday and claimed that her parents had a dispute about a decade ago after which she moved to Delhi with her mother. About four years ago, her father and uncle brought her back to her village from Delhi. She said that her mother passed away last year. “For the past one year, the girl’s father, uncle, and grandfather had been raping her. She alleged that her grandfather would take her to the fields and act inappropriately, her uncle would forcibly enter her room, and her father would tie her up and assault her. When she resisted, they threatened to kill her,” a police officer said. “When the girl became pregnant two months ago, she informed her aunt about it, but she did not help her. The girl claimed that on Dec 22, her father, uncle, and grandfather conspired to kill her after which she escaped to her aunt’s house,” the officer added. “Her aunt accompanied her to the police station where she filed a complaint. The statement was recorded and proceedings commenced against the accused persons,” he added.

Secretariat staffers hit by flurry of fake int’l calls Fear Their Personal Data Hacked From Govt Records

Secretariat staffers hit by flurry of fake int’l calls Fear Their Personal Data Hacked From Govt Records 

TIMES NEWS NETWORK 05.12.2024  BHOPAL 

Bhopal : Employees of the Madhya Pradesh state secretariat are receiving an alarming flurry of fake calls and missed calls from international numbers. The numbers being targeted are those registered with the govt. The employees’ union has complained about this to the general administration department. At least 60 employees have complained through the union, fearing that their database is being hacked or leaked from govt records. The employees union reported that for the past few days, a number of employees in the secretariat are receiving international calls on their mobile numbers. The employees who received the calls were asked to click on different numbers on their mobile keypad if they wanted to continue mobile service. Many employees did not answer the calls for fear of being conned. 

On Nov 19, many secretariat employees received calls simultaneously from international numbers. When the employees searched the numbers on the Internet, they found they were from the US, South Africa, Arab countries, and other countries. This has been ongoing for the past few days. On Friday, retired govt employees and pensioners al so received similar fake calls. The employees union stated that such suspicious international calls are coming only to those numbers registered with the general administration dept. 

Those employees or officials who have more than one number have received calls only on the number they provided to the govt. The officers and employees brought this complaint to the notice of the employees union. Employees fear that the data of officers and employees secured with the govt has been leaked to fraudsters.

The employees union has submitted a memorandum in this regard to the general administration dept and has demanded an inquiry into the matter. The list of numbers on which the calls have been received has also been submitted to the govt. Breaching the data secured with the govt, if it has happened, is a serious matter, the employees stated. Sudhir Nayak, president, Mantralaya Seva Adhikari/ Karmchari Sangh, said it is a serious matter and needs immediate govt attention. At least 60 employees have contacted him and complained in this regard. Similar complaints were received from pensioners too. Govt data and records must be protected from being compromised, he added. 

Secretariat staff attend fire safety drill Bhopal : A fire drill was conducted at the state secretariat recently. The employees were briefed on how to use fire extinguishers and react in case of a fire incident. The drive was conducted under the supervision of Vallabh Bhawan chief security officer, Avinash Sharma. A similar drive was conducted in Satpura Bhawan and Vindhyanchal Bhawan recently. Employees were briefed on how to attend to those injured in the fire until medical assistance arrives. Close to a hundred employees were present when the fire personnel briefed them during the fire drill. Vallabh Bhawan I building caught a major fire on Mar 9. The alertness has been stepped up after the incident.

Man exposes markscard racket, edu academy owner in custody

Man exposes markscard racket, edu academy owner in custody

Chaithanya.Swamy@timesofindia.com

Bengaluru : A 46-year-old real estate dealer has exposed a fake markscard racket run by a distance education academy in Ramarao Layout of Katriguppe, Banashankari II Stage in south Bengaluru. Following his complaint, Central Crime Branch (CCB) sleuths have arrested Monish, 28, who runs the academy and are probing. Mirza Inamul Huq, a resident of Palace Guttahalli, approached CCB police recently, informing them about the racket run by Mercury Academy, Distance Education Centre. Huq’s nephew, Mirza Nameath Ul Huq, 28, who studied until class 10, wanted to continue his studies in correspondence (distance) education. They called the mobile number 9739770484 mentioned in the academy’s portal. Monish picked the call and introduced himself as the head of the academy. Monish claimed that they were affiliated with many reputed universities and suggested Huq visit the academy to know more.

Accordingly, Huq took his nephew to the academy on Oct 20 for PUC admission . Monish allegedly told Huq not to worry about the exam as they have links with the officials in the education board and universities. He would manage to get the markscard without exam in a month or two if they were ready to pay Rs 2 lakh. Certificate for Rs 2 lakh Huq asked him to get admission for Nameath, if not they didn’t want any kind of business with him and walked out. Monish called him the next morning and explained how their connections were with the universities and suggested he not waste his nephew's two years in making him appear for the exam. He also sent a few markscards as evidence to convince them that they were genuine and provided a link to Karnataka State Council of Intermediate And Higher Education ‘www.karnatakastatecouncil.in’ to check them by entering the enrolment number and serial number of the sample markscard sent to him.

He said the officials and universities would issue the markscard with a previous year's date and managed to convince Huq to share details of his nephew, including a photo and SSLC markscard. Huq made an online payment of Rs 10,000 to 9739770484 through a digital payment application on the same day as a registration fee. Monish claimed to have registered Nameath’s name and, citing course fee and bribe, collected Rs 1 lakh more from Huq. On Monday, Monish asked Huq to collect his nephew’s PUC markscard from the academy by paying the remaining amount.

Huq’s plan was to expose the racket with evidence. After learning that the markscard was ready, he approached CCB police and filed a complaint. As per the instructions, he went to the academy to collect the markscard, and the CCB sleuths in plainclothes caught Monish red-handed. Police seized many documents, including markscards and other students’ details from the academy, along with electronic devices such as laptop. A case has been registered under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) sections 318 (cheating), 336 (forgery), and 340 (forged document or electronic record and using it as genuine).

Notice to bank after employee held for ₹3cr fixed deposit theft

Notice to bank after employee held for ₹3cr fixed deposit theft

Is There No Accountability Of Any Bank When Money Siphoned Off: HC

Rosy.Sequeira@timesofindia.com 04.12.2024

Mumbai : Bombay high court on Tuesday issued a notice to HDFC Bank and banking regulator Reserve Bank of India (RBI) after it was informed that police had arrested an employee of the bank who allegedly siphoned off ₹3 crore from a customer’s fixed deposits. “Ultimately, people trust a particular bank ... A relationship manager takes a person for a ride. What faith now will people... a person have in the banking system?” asked Justices Revati Mohite-Dere and Prithviraj Chavan. 

The petition by Meenakshi Kapuria, 53, stated that her relationship manager, Payal Kothari, 27, broke her ₹3 crore worth of FDs and transferred the amount to fictitious accounts and from there into her own accounts. She received no SMS or email alerts. On Mon day, her advocate Rizwan Siddiquee said Kothari gained Kapuria’s trust and took blank signed cheques from her, assuring the money would be transferred to mutual funds, gold bonds, new fund offers, among others, earning her more than FDs. He said Versova police are putting pressure on Kapuria to settle the matter with Kothari. Prosecutor Kranti Hiwrale said police froze Kothari’s bank accounts, which had ₹30,000 in all.

The judges directed zonal DCP Dikshit Gedam to remain present. On Tuesday, Hiwrale said Kothari was arrested “this morning”. “Why does an arrest have to be made only when a complainant comes to the court? And you’re (police) asking parties to settle the matter?” asked Justice Mohite-Dere. Gedam said one more person could be arrested immediately. He said the investigation is transferred from PI Amol Dhole to senior PI Gajanan Pawar. Asked about action against Dhole, Gedam said a departmental enquiry will be initiated against him for  dereliction of duty. 

The judges questioned why Kapuria didn’t receive alerts. Gedam said Kothari changed her mobile number and email address in the bank’s records, “and that is why when the transaction was happening, the victim was not getting any kind of alerts”. The judges said, “This is extremely serious.” They enquired if the police did an investigation with the bank. Justice Mohite-Dere asked, “Is there no accountability of any bank when money is siphoned off under their nose?” Considering the manner in which the petitioner was cheated,” the judges directed HDFC Bank’s senior manager of Lokhandwala branch or regional manager in charge of Mumbai to be impleaded as well as RBI. Posting the next matter on Dec 13, the judges said they also want to also know the amount in Kapuria’s account before and after the Oct 30 FIR was lodged.

Con man poses as govt officer, cheats three of ₹7L Identified Himself As Chairman Of Dept Of Science, R&D

Con man poses as govt officer, cheats three of ₹7L Identified Himself As Chairman Of Dept Of Science, R&D 

TIMES NEWS NETWORK 24.11.2024

Ahmedabad : The Detection of Crime Branch (DCB) launched a search for Mehul Shah, a resident of Wankaner, who allegedly posed as a senior govt official and cheated three individuals out of Rs 7 lakh. Shah’s victims include a car rental company owner, a bouncer, and a painter, all lured by promises of lucrative deals or govt jobs. Pratik Shah, a car rental company owner, filed the complaint after being defrauded by Mehul Shah. The scam began on Sep 6, when Shah contacted Pratik, claiming to be a senior govt officer. He hired an SUV for Rs 3,500 per day, stating it was needed for daily office use. Shah subsequently insisted on modifications to the vehicle, including a siren, red light, white curtains, and a “Government of India” plate, presenting forged documents supposedly signed by a senior govt official. Pratik complied, even getting approvals from the RTO and police.

 Mehul also told him that he was a trustee at a university in the Asarwa area. He went on to hire two buses, purportedly to transport students on a picnic to Mount Abu, and rented additional vehicles for his relatives. In October, Mehul claimed that he got a promotion in the revenue department and requested a higher-end SUV. He agreed to Pratik’s quotation of Rs 7,000 per day, despite owing him substantial unpaid dues. To secure the arrangement, Mehul issued a work order forged with a signature as the chairman of the Department of Science and Research Development. The agreement was for three years. When Pratik demanded Rs 90,000 in unpaid bills, Shah provided a blank cheque, which bounced  due to insufficient funds. Shah then ceased all communication, and Pratik realised that he was defrauded. Pratik was cheated of Rs 1.6 lakh in total. 

Bouncer paid ₹3L to secure son’s job Pratik’s driver, Alpesh Padhiyar, revealed that Shah had requested a bouncer for security services. Alpesh referred his acquaintance, Vinod Bhambhi, whom Mehul lured with a govt clerk job for his son Vatsal at a fictitious ‘Asarwa University.’ He demanded Rs 3 lakh for the job from Bhambhi, who paid him to secure the job for his son. Shah handed Bhambhi a forged appointment letter on the letterhead of the District Education Officer (DEO), Ahmedabad City. However, when Bhambhi approached DEO RM Chaudhary for verification, the letter was confirmed to be fake. The complaint states that Mehul Shah did not even spare a man hired for painting work at the university, claiming he had purchased the institution. Shah duped Sipai of Rs 2.4 lakh by not paying for the painting work. TNN

When Instagram friendship turned a nightmare for married woman

When Instagram friendship turned a nightmare for married woman

Chaithanya.Swamy@timesofindia.com 08.11.2024

Bengaluru : A 37-year-old married woman’s friendship with an Instagram acquaintance landed her in deep trouble as the latter extorted gold ornaments and cash from her using her nude photographs, which he also sent to her relatives and friends. He even contacted her husband, resulting in her being sent out of the marital home. Police took swift action and arrested the accused. 

According to the police complaint lodged by Radhika (name changed), she got married in 2012 and has an 11-yearold daughter. Her husband is in the real estate business. The couple developed differences over the past four years but they continued to live together. In early 2021, she befriended Abhishek M Naik, 24, a private firm employee, on Instagram. Naik had two accounts — ‘Abhi_373’ and ‘Abhishek_Naik_373’. After a few days of friendship on social media, the duo exchanged phone numbers and started texting regularly. Radhika shared with Naik her marital issues. He took advantage of her situation and counselled her. She felt comfortable with him, and the duo started making WhatsApp video calls, speaking for hours. 

Radhika considered Naik a trustworthy partner and started posing nude on the video calls. She also sent him nude photos and videos of herself. He also recorded her audio calls and saved the audio messages sent by her. Over time, the duo developed differences and Radhika started avoiding Naik. He then began blackmailing her for ransom by threatening to leak her nudes. She gave him gold ornaments and cash on multiple occasions. As he demanded more money and gold, Radhika informed him she didn’t have any more valuables to part with. He threatened to send her nudes to her family members and friends. Naik got in touch with her husband over phone and informed him about the affair. Her husband threw Radhika out of the house in May, and she and her daughter began living with her sister. 

She blocked Naik’s number and changed her mobile number thereafter. But he continued to be in  touch with her husband and managed to collect her and her family members and friends’ numbers. He again started harassing her and recently, collected the address of her sister’s house from her husband and came in search of her on Oct 5. She learnt he was showing her nudes to people in the area and asking for the address. He even showed the nudes to her sister’s office staff. They alerted her sister, after which Radhika lodged a complaint. 

A senior police officer said Radhika met Abhishek on multiple occasions and they were in a relationship. When she avoided him, he became possessive and wanted her back in his life. “We caught him red-handed when he was near her sister’s house and arrested him.” A case has been registered under Information Technology Act and Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita Sections 354C (voyeurism) & 384 (extortio

Man held for ‘digital arrest’ scam

Man held for ‘digital arrest’ scam 

Sindhu.Kannan@timesofindia.com 30.10.2024

Chennai : Two days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi cautioned people against falling prey to scamsters who threaten people with ‘digital arrest,’ an Ambattur resident lost ₹1.05 crore to fraudsters who used the ‘digital arrest’ method. The account to which the money had been transferred in three instalments, however, belonged to a Velachery resident K Sathishkumar, who floated a fake firm, opened a savings bank account and then sold it to cyber fraudsters. 

The Avadi cybercrime police traced Sathishkumar and seized three cell phones, seven credit cards, and ₹8,000. According to a complaint from Rameshkumar of Ambattur, he received a video call from a man who claimed to be a CBI officer. He told Rameshkumar that his name had been linked to a pending money-laundering case wherein Bollywood actor Shilpa Shetty’s husband Raj Kundra was the main culprit. It may be noted that Kundra was accused of creating and distributing porn films through apps and was arrested in Sept 2021. He is currently out on bail. Giving these details, the fake CBI officer told Rameshkumar that he was under ‘digital arrest’ and that he had to transfer the cash deposit in him bank accounts to several other accounts belonging to the ‘CBI’. 

He said the money would be returned to him in two hours if the ‘law enforcement agencies’ found him innocent. Till the ‘verification’ is complete, he should not reveal his ‘digital arrest’ even to his family members, he was warned. Believing the words, Rameshkumar transferred a total of ₹1.05 crore in three instalments. As there was no more communication from the other side, Ramesh Kumar realised that he had been cheated. He then lodged a complaint with the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (NCCRP) and approached the Avadi cybercrime wing. A team headed by cybercrime inspector Praveen Kumar tracked the account that belonged to Sathishkumar of Velachery. 

Inquiries revealed that he floated a fake firm in his name, opened a 

savings account and sold it to the fraudsters. Only on Monday, Prime Minister Modi asked people to be vigilant against “digital arrests” and said investigative agencies never contact individuals over phone or video call for such matters. The Prime Minister also said probe agencies were working with the states to deal with the issue.

‘Chinese national behind digital arrest racket’

‘Chinese national behind digital arrest racket’ 

TIMES NEWS NETWORK 26.10.2024 LUCKNOW 

Lucknow : Following the arrest of two Nepalese nationals in connection with a digital fraud case in the city, the UP special task force (STF) said that a Chinese national could be the mastermind of the gang. The STF had arrested two persons, Saroj Khanal and Shivram Rimal, and found during preliminary investigation that the duo worked under a Chinese national, identified as Ben. According to DySP, STF, Deepak Kumar Singh, the arrested Nepalese suspects confessed that Ben lured them into financial fraud. He added that Khanal and Rimal had been executing digital arrest frauds throughout India for the last one years. Sources in the STF said that preliminary findings indicated that Ben created a network of operatives to expand his illegal operations across multiple states in India. During interrogation, Khanal and Rimal revealed that Ben operated alongside Chakre Milan, a prominent gangster from Nepal. Milan and his associates are known for involvement in illegal activities across Nepal and India

Fake ED team raids businessman’s house, tries to extort ₹5 cr

Fake ED team raids businessman’s house, tries to extort ₹5 cr 

TIMES NEWS NETWORK 26.10.2024 

New Delhi : In real life imitating reel, a team of seven imposters masquerading as ED officers seemed to have taken a cue from Akshay Kumar starrer ‘Special 26’ as they ‘raided’ a businessman’s house in tony DLF Farms in Chhattarpur, Delhi on an Oct evening, ‘questioned’ him on huge cash withdrawals from his bank and pressurising him to ‘settle’ the matter with a payment of Rs 5 crore. Since cash was not available, the imposters waited all night at the victim’s house and took him to the bank the next morning to withdraw the money. While the accused and the victim were at the bank, the ED was alerted by the businessman’s lawyer who received a message from the victim about the “ED raids”. 

However, before the enforcement team and the local police officials, who were alerted by the ED, could reach the bank, the imposters fled when they got suspicious after the victim's lawyer wanted to see the identity cards of the raiding party. Some accused still at the house of the victim also ran away leaving behind their cars as the gates were locked. A hunt is on for the culprits.

 “The lawyer of the victim had reached the bank and had questioned the fake ED officers, and sought to see their ID cards. The imposters grew suspicious of being caught and ran away before they could be apprehended,” the ED said in a statement. An FIR has been registered by the Delhi Police and two vehicles belonging to the accused have also been seized from the victim’s house. Later, in his statement to the police, the victim said that seven people had come to his house on Oct 21 night in two cars claiming to be ED officers. Four of them were masked while three interacted with him unmasked. “They questioned the victim as to why he was withdrawing huge cash regularly from his bank account. They also carried with them some cheques of his old bank account and threatened arrest unless he agreed to pay them Rs 5 crore,” the ED has said.  So confident was the fake ED team, that when the businessman told the ‘raiding party’ that the money could be taken out only from the bank the next morning, the imposters decided to stay at his house the entire night. The next day, he was taken to the Kotak Mahindra Bank at Hauz Khas to withdraw the money

Blank screen? Might be a sextortion call

Blank screen? Might be a sextortion call 

NEW TRICK Dwaipayan.Ghosh@timesofindia.com 20.10.2024

Kolkata : Sextortion calls have become more sinister this festive season, said cops, with conmen having changed their modus operandi making it difficult for the potential victim to identify that the caller had planned to trap him.

 “Earlier, the moment such calls were made, the potential victim would see scantily clad or naked women at the other end. Ever since we began our awareness drive, citizens mostly now immediately end the video call giving less time to the accused to capture the video of the victim and use it for extortion. Now, when a victim picks up the call, he sees a blank or black screen. It takes him a few seconds to understand what was going on in his screen, leave aside ascertaining it to be a fraud call. This allows enough time for the accused to capture his image and superimpose it and then ask for extortion money,” said a senior cyber cell officer. 

Lalbazar on Saturday took to X platform to warn citizens on the changing modus operandi. Sources said at least four complaints in this regard have been received though no one till now has ended up paying the extortion money. A senior cop has drawn up a detailed list of do’s and don’ts for the city’s netizens.

Beware! Don’t get ‘arrested’ by scammers CYBER THREAT Digital Detention: 24 Cases Reported In City This Yr So Far

Beware! Don’t get ‘arrested’ by scammers CYBER THREAT Digital Detention: 24 Cases Reported In City This Yr So Far 

TIMES NEWS NETWORK  BHOPAL  15.10.2024

 Bhopal : Imagine this: You’re going through your daily routine, when out of the blue you receive a call from a “cop”, who tells you that you're under investigation for a serious crime or that a family member has been arrested for a crime. Panic sets in. You try to jog your memory— what did you do wrong? Before you can wrap your mind around anything, the caller says you’ve been linked to a money laundering or a drug trafficking case, and if you don't pay a fi ne or cover legal fees immediately, an arrest warrant will be issued. 

This is the new terrifying cyber-crime, the ‘digital arrest’ scam, which is catching people off guard and stealing their hard-earned money. Around two dozen cases of digital arrest were reported with the Bhopal cyber crime branch this year, including one in which a retired Navy Commodore was kept under digital arrest at his home by cyber-criminals posing as senior officers of Mumbai police. The retired official was duped of around Rs 68.49 lakhs. Senior police officers say that the situation is much worse as many cases are still not reported to the police, especially those cases where in people do not fall into the trap of fraudsters.

A senior officer said that a person falls into the trap of cybercriminals either through text messages on WhatsApp or Telegram, or through a phone call. People should think before making any decisions while talking to a stranger over a phone call, and they should verify whether the information is true, the official said. He said that the Bhopal cybercrime branch and the state cybercrime headquarters issue advisories  from time to time, alerting people that there is no legal provision for ‘digital arrest’, and citizens should remain cautious of misleading messages, particularly those related to bank accounts, insurance, and pensions. 

A few months ago, an exNavy officer was allegedly held under ‘digital arrest’ at his home for two days and was duped of Rs 68.49 lakh by cybercriminals. They concocted a false story that a parcel carrying drugs (MDMA) was booked from Mumbai to Taiwan using the officer’s Aadhaar Card. The fraudsters impersonated officials of an international courier agency and DCP (crime branch) of Mumbai police. They threatened to frame him in a drug smuggling and money laundering case and siphoned the money. They instructed him to post ‘present sir’ on the Skype video call every half an hour. He could not sleep for the next 48 hours. However, there have been two cases, which showcase how people managed escaped this scam with their awareness and presence of mind.

Recently, an Awadhpuribased professional, whose son studies in an institute in another state, received a phone call from a cybercon in which the fraudster threatened him, claiming they had kidnapped his son and demanded a ran som. The man was left shocked and immediately disconnected the fraudster's phone. As he called his son's mobile number, the same fraudster picked up the call and threatened him again. The man was worried but did not lose his calm. He immediately called his son's college principal and found out that his son was safe in the college canteen.

In another case, cybercriminals tried to dupe the parents of a youth, who hails from Dehradun and studies at a national institute in Bhopal. The accused threatened his parents, claiming they had kidnapped their son. As the youth’s father tried calling his son’s number, it was unreachable. He then called the college and found that his son was safe. Both cases have been reported to the police. A senior officer said that the scam is spreading rapidly, with cons preying on the fear that people have for law enforcement and govt agencies.

These criminals have refined their approach, using modern technology and psychological manipulation to intimidate their victims into making hasty financial decisions. Additional DCP (crime branch) Shailendra Singh Chouhan said that cybercriminals target people only through phone calls or messages. People should verify whatever the fraudsters are claiming over unknown phone calls and messages and take further action. They should not act in a hurry.

Two arrested for supplying fake marksheets

Two arrested for supplying fake marksheets 

TIMES NEWS NETWORK 

Chennai : Two people, including a man who runs a media association in Rajamangalam, were arrested for preparing and supplying fake Class X and Class XII marksheets to people. The arrested were identified as Vijay Ananth alias Ananthan, 47, a resident of Vinayagapuram near Kolathur, and Langruf Ruben alias Jeremiah, 42, of Sekkadu near Avadi. Police said Ananthan had been running ‘Universal Press Media’ in Rajamangalam. After one of the staff found Ananthan preparing the forged documents of Class X and XII marksheets, a complaint was made. Based on the complaint, the Kolathur police registered a case and arrested Ananthan and Jeremiah. Police seized one laptop, one Central Processing Unit (CPU), one hard disk, one DVR recorder, two mobile phones, seven seals, 48 fake mark sheets, and three pen drives. The arrested duo was remanded in judicial custody after being produced before a magistrate court in the city