CBI cracks down on digital arrest syndicates, arrests 4 after searches at 12 locations
New Delhi, Apr 15 (PTI): In a major crackdown on syndicates running digital arrest scams, the Central Bureau of Investigation has arrested four people following searches at 12 locations, officials said on Tuesday.
Terming it "Operation Chakra-V", they said the CBI carried out searches in connection with a digital arrests case registered by it on the request of the Rajasthan government in which two persons each were arrested from Moradabad in Uttar Pradesh and Mumbai.
It was alleged that the arrested accused extorted a total of Rs 7.67 crore in 42 instalments. The victim was digitally detained for over three months by cybercriminals posing as personnel of various law enforcement agencies, the officials said.
"The CBI has been adopting a multi-pronged approach in investigating digital arrest cases, with a special emphasis on dismantling the infrastructure behind such offences," a CBI spokesperson said in a statement.
He said the CBI has registered multiple cases of digital arrests in recent months.
The agency conducted an in-depth investigation involving extensive data analysis and profiling after taking over the Rajasthan case.
"The CBI employed advanced investigative techniques to identify the perpetrators. Based on the leads generated during the investigation, the CBI conducted extensive searches recently across 12 locations in Moradabad and Sambhal in Uttar Pradesh, Krishnanagar in West Bengal, Mumbai and Jaipur, leading to the arrest of four individuals involved in this highly organised crime syndicate," the spokesperson said.
The agency seized bank account details, debit cards, chequebooks, deposit slips, and digital devices/evidence during the searches, he said.
The arrested persons have been remanded in police custody for five days.
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CM Siddaramaiah urges Centre to eliminate terrorists, ensure Pahalgam like incidents don't repeat
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Thursday paid respects to Bharath Bhushan, who was shot dead in the terrorist attack at Pahalgam in Jammu-Kashmir, and urged the central government to eliminate terrorists and ensure that such incidents don't repeat.
Asserting that everyone is with the Centre in its action against the terrorists, he, however, reiterated intelligence failure in stopping the attack from happening.
Bodies of two tourists from Karnataka who were killed by the terrorists in the Pahalgam terror attack were brought to the Kempegowda International Airport here in the early hours on Thursday.
Manjunath Rao and Bharath Bushan were among the 26 people killed in front of their families after confirming their religious identity in Pahalgam on Tuesday. Most of those killed by terrorists were tourists.
While Rao's body was taken to his hometown Shivamogga, Bushan's body was brought to his residence in Bengaluru. The last rites are likely to take place later in the day.
"On behalf of the government and seven crore Kannadigas, I pay my respects to Bharath Bhushan. Still young age, he was 41 years old and a BE, MBA graduate. An untoward incident has happened. This is an inhuman act. I strongly condemn it," Siddaramaiah said.
Speaking to reporters here after paying respects to Bhushan, he said that eliminating terrorists is the responsibility of the government. Terrorism and terrorist activities should have no place in the country.
"For no reason the government (central) should show any discount towards this. We are all with the central government. I urge the Centre to eliminate all terrorists. Our full support is there for this" he added.
Pointing out that innocent people who had gone to Kashmir as tourists were killed in front of their wives and children, the CM said, there cannot be another heinous and inhuman act than this. He further said that he strongly condemned it.
Citing the Pulwama terror incident in which around 40 soldiers were killed, he said, "Now this incident has happened. It should be ensured that such incidents don't repeat. The terrorists should be traced and they should be eliminated from the country. I urge the central government to take such measures. I somewhere feel that there was intelligence failure."
Noting that two people from the state have died and another person from Andhra who was a resident of Bengaluru was also killed and his body has been taken to his home state, Siddaramaiah said, Minister Madhu Bangarappa will be paying respect to Manjunath Rao in Shivamogga, on behalf of the government.
The government has announced Rs 10 lakh each to the family of the deceased, and will always be with them, he said.
A team of officers and Minister Santosh Lad rushed to Jammu and Kashmir to get back bodies to the state, and to ensure the return of Kannadigas who had gone there as tourists. 177 Kannadigas are being brought back. "It is the responsibility of the government," the CM said.
Bharath Bhushan was shot dead by the terrorists while his wife Sujatha and their three-year-old son were spared. While Manjunath Rao, a realtor, was also killed in the presence of his wife and son.
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