Police on Wednesday revealed that a private bank employee and his friend, who were working as mule account operators for a cybercrime gang, allegedly siphoned off ₹17 lakh from the gang leader. The money was used to repay their personal loans and to settle threats from goons sent by the gang to recover the amount.
The sum of ₹17 lakh was part of ₹51 lakh fraudulently taken from a retired IAS officer living in Raisina Residency, Sector 59, Gurugram. The victim had been trapped in a “digital arrest” by cybercriminals who posed as police officials.
Investigators said that when the gang leader discovered the missing funds, he sent three goons to intimidate the duo. To avoid being assaulted, the accused paid ₹1 lakh each to the men.
The cyber crime case came to light after the arrest of three suspects identified as Sangram Singh, 33, a private bank sales executive from Ranjit Nagar, Gohil Ajay Bhai, 25, from Parbadi, and Arjun Kumar, 31, from Gorwa. They were arrested in Vadodara, Gujarat, on Saturday, brought to Gurugram on Monday, and later remanded to judicial custody.
Police said the cybercriminals had impersonated a Deputy Superintendent of Police from Mumbai and accused the retired bureaucrat of being linked to a money laundering case using his Aadhaar and other credentials.
The victim filed a complaint at the Cybercrime Police Station (South) on July 22, which was registered under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
According to investigators, ₹17 lakh was transferred into Bhai’s account and another ₹4.3 lakh went to Kumar’s account. Kumar received a 1 percent commission from the gang.
“Bhai had given the account’s access to Singh, who in turn sold it to the gang through Kumar,” an official said, adding that once the funds were credited, the accused decided to keep them for themselves.
Both Singh and Bhai managed to withdraw the entire amount in cash before the cybercriminals could move it to another account. Singh used his share to repay a car loan, while Bhai used the money to settle a personal loan.
When the gang leader realised that the money was withdrawn, he sent three men to threaten Singh and Bhai into returning it. Fearing for their safety, the duo paid ₹1 lakh each to the goons to avoid violence.
Sandeep Kumar, Public Relations Officer of Gurugram Police, confirmed that the trio were placed in judicial custody after being produced in court on Monday. “Raids were going on to nab the other suspects involved in the case,” he said.
Also read: Viksit Workforce for a Viksit Bharat
Do Follow: The Mainstream formerly known as CIO News LinkedIn Account | The Mainstream formerly known as CIO News Facebook | The Mainstream formerly known as CIO News Youtube | The Mainstream formerly known as CIO News Twitter |The Mainstream formerly known as CIO News Whatsapp Channel | The Mainstream formerly known as CIO News Instagram
About us:
The Mainstream formerly known as CIO News is a premier platform dedicated to delivering latest news, updates, and insights from the tech industry. With its strong foundation of intellectual property and thought leadership, the platform is well-positioned to stay ahead of the curve and lead conversations about how technology shapes our world. From its early days as CIO News to its rebranding as The Mainstream on November 28, 2024, it has been expanding its global reach, targeting key markets in the Middle East & Africa, ASEAN, the USA, and the UK. The Mainstream is a vision to put technology at the center of every conversation, inspiring professionals and organizations to embrace the future of tech.
