Men held for cheating over 100 people impersonating 'high-profile' individuals
New Delhi (PTI): Two men were arrested for allegedly impersonating high-profile people by using their picture as WhatsApp DP and taking money from the impersonated men's relatives and friends, police said on Saturday.
The accused, 19-year-old Javed Khan and 23-year-old Amit Kumar, used pictures of high-profile people from social media, and cheated more than 100 people in the last one year alone, they said. The two were arrested from Alwar in Rajasthan.
According to the police, Khan and Kumar opened several bank accounts using the documents of people known to them and received the money in those accounts.
The matter came to light in January, when a victim approached police saying that someone was using his photograph on WhatsApp as a 'display picture' and was asking for money from his relatives and friends.
During the investigation, it was found that the mobile number used by the frauds was also linked to another matter in which the accused had projected himself as an army officer and cheated about Rs 47,000 offering to sell an old vehicle on OLX website, a senior police officer said.
The cheated amount was transferred to a bank account in Alwar, Rajasthan, Jitendra Kumar Meena, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Northwest) said.
Police first nabbed Amit Kumar, who during interrogation, revealed that he lent his bank account to receive the defrauded money and was paid a commission on it.
At his instance, police nabbed Javed Khan, the main accused, who confessed to masterminded the scam.
"He ... disclosed that he searched Facebook accounts of high-profile educated professionals and downloaded their photographs to use them on WhatsApp and demand money from their relatives and friends," the DCP said.
Two mobile phones used in the commission of the crimes were seized by police.
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B'luru: "Least priority, shifted late," says brother of patient who died in Ramaiah hospital fire
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Bengaluru: Hours after a fire broke out at the Critical Care Unit (CCU) of the MS Ramaiah Memorial Hospital on New BEL Road on Thursday, a 34-year-old patient, Sujay Sujathan Panicker, tragically passed away. His family has accused the hospital authorities of negligence, which they claim led to his death.
The fire at Ramaiah Memorial Hospital is believed to have been caused by a short circuit. Initial reports suggested that there were no casualties in the incident.
Sujay, originally from Kollam in Kerala, had been residing in Bengaluru with his family since 2004. He was undergoing treatment for pneumonia, Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS), and H1N1 since September 1 at the hospital.
Sujay's wife and father released a video accusing the hospital of negligence. In the video, his wife, Rohini Jayan, alleged that the hospital authorities took no action against those responsible for the fire.
Sujay’s brother, Sujin Sujathan Panicker, speaking to Vartha Bharathi, detailed the family’s ordeal. He said that despite his sister-in-law requesting assistance during the chaos, the hospital staff pushed her away, assuring her that all patients had been safely evacuated to the Medical Intensive Care Unit (MICU). However, Sujin claims that his sister-in-law did not see Sujay being shifted.
He further stated, “Sometime later, when a doctor arrived, she (Rohini) inquired about Sujay. It was only after the doctor questioned the staff that they rushed to evacuate him.”
Sujin added that by the time his brother was evacuated, 50 minutes had already passed since the fire broke out. "He was still inside, while all the other patients were taken out first. He was admitted to the hospital with a respiratory illness, yet he was given the least priority during the chaos. He was the last one to be evacuated."
He also claimed that Rohini had already noticed that Sujay’s condition had deteriorated and believed he had passed away, though the hospital authorities did not officially declare his death.
Sujin further stated that the hospital authorities called him and his father to the board room at the 8th floor of the hospital, where senior executives and doctors who had treated Sujay were present “During the interaction they (hospital authorities) claimed that Sujay was still alive and that his condition had worsened amid the smoke and that his chances of survival were less, which was not true.”
"Despite staff being present to evacuate my brother, they remained negligent. The fire broke out at 1:00 p.m., so why did it take 50 minutes to get him out? He was in a corner bed in the CCU, and it seemed they either overlooked the room or ignored it. Even after repeated requests, it took them 50 minutes to evacuate him," Sujin added.
Sujin also expressed concerns that the hospital authorities might attempt to influence the investigation. "They can influence anyone—any hospital, any report."
At the time of the interview, Sujin stated that neither the government nor the health department had contacted the family.
A complaint has been filed in connection with the incident at the Sadashivanagar police station. "The statements of the family members have been recorded, and an investigation into the matter is underway. An FIR has been lodged under Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS) Section 106 (causing death due to negligence)," said Sadashivanagar police station Sub-Inspector.
Meanwhile, officials from Ramaiah Memorial Hospital were unavailable for comment.
