Mangaluru, Dec 24: A 22-year-old man from Kerala has been arrested in connection with a cyber fraud case involving Rs 1.71 crore, officials said on Tuesday.

The accused, identified as Akash A, a resident of Chokkath in Kozhikode district, allegedly used his bank account for cybercrimes, they said.

According to the police, an FIR was registered under various sections of the Information Technology Act and Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita based on a complaint about fraudulent activities.

The complainant reported receiving harassing calls and messages from an unknown person impersonating a representative of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI).

The impersonator claimed that a mobile number had been registered in the complainant's name and linked it to unlawful activities in Mumbai.

The fraudster allegedly opened a bank account in the complainant's name at Canara Bank in Mumbai and used it for fraudulent transactions. Through various manipulative tactics, the complainant was defrauded of Rs 1.71 crore in phases, a senior police officer said.

During the investigation, the police traced the involvement of Akash A. His bank account was found to be linked to the cybercrime, the officer added.

A police team apprehended him in Kerala and brought him to Mangaluru for further proceedings. He has been produced before the court, the officer said.

Efforts are ongoing to trace other suspects involved in the case, police said.

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New Delhi (PTI): Union Minister for Women and Child Development Annpurna Devi on Tuesday expressed her anguish over the alleged gang rape of a girl in Tamil Nadu and urged the National Commission for Women to take immediate cognisance of the matter.

In a post on X, Devi said, "Deeply anguished by this horrific incident. I urge the NCW to take immediate cognisance and act swiftly in coordination with the concerned authorities to ensure the strictest action against all culprits."

Devi said, "Justice must be swift and unsparing — the accused must be brought to book without delay," adding, "the safety, dignity, and justice of every daughter of India remain our highest priority."

"We stand firmly with the survivor and her family in this difficult hour," she said.

Reacting to a post by former Tamil Nadu BJP president K Annamalai, who flagged concerns over the law and order situation in the state, Devi said such incidents "expose grave concerns" under the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam government.

Annamalai, in his post, alleged that a 15-year-old girl from Kanchipuram, who had come to participate in a temple festival near Seyyaru in Tiruvannamalai district, was gangraped.

He said the incident was "deeply shocking and enraging" to him and alleged that such crimes point to a "complete failure" of law and order in Tamil Nadu.

Annamalai demanded immediate arrest of all those involved and the "harshest punishments" for the accused.

He also called for full protection and mental health counselling for the survivor and her family.