Senior citizen placed under digital arrest for 'Delhi blast probe', forced to pay Rs 16.50 lakh
Mumbai (PTI): A 75-year-old retired BMC official was allegedly duped of Rs 16.50 lakh by cyber fraudsters who posed as ATS and NIA officials and placed him under a "digital arrest" for 'interrogation', claiming his name surfaced in the Delhi Bomb blast case, police said on Wednesday.
The incident came to light on Monday after the victim, a resident of Andheri East, approached the West Region Cyber Police Station, an official said.
According to the police, the victim received a call on December 11 from unidentified persons claiming to be officers from the Delhi Anti-Terrorism Department. The caller threatened him, saying his name had surfaced in a Delhi bomb blast case and that he needed to be interrogated secretly.
The caller then asked the victim to download the Signal application, where he received a video call. During the call, one of the fraudsters posed as NIA officer Sadanand Date.
The caller told the victim that a bank account linked to his mobile number had allegedly received Rs 7 crore through money laundering activities and warned that he would be arrested in the case, police said.
Citing the seriousness of the matter and its alleged connection to national security, the caller instructed the victim not to discuss the issue with anyone.
Claiming that the agency needed to verify whether his investments and deposits were from legal sources, the fraudsters asked the victim to transfer his money to certain bank accounts for verification.
Accordingly, the victim deposited Rs 16.50 lakh, following which the caller blocked his number.
The victim then approached the cyber police and lodged a complaint, based on which a case has been registered against unidentified persons, the official said.
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Adequate LPG stock in Chhattisgarh, no need to panic, says CM Sai
Raipur (PTI): Amid reports of shortage of commercial LPG cylinder in several parts of the country due to the US-Israel-Iran conflict, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai on Tuesday assured people that they need not worry about the availability of cooking gas in the state.
He asserted that adequate stock of LPG as well as petrol and diesel was available in the state.
Sai said in a statement that authorities have been directed to regularly monitor stock at gas agencies and keep a close watch on the supply chain. Necessary instructions were issued to officials in all districts to ensure a smooth supply of LPG.
The chief minister instructed officials to take strict action if any complaint of black marketing or hoarding of LPG cylinders is received.
Sai urged state residents not to pay attention to rumours and to book cooking gas cylinders as per their actual requirement.
The government was fully alert to ensure the availability of essential commodities to citizens, he emphasised.
Meanwhile, the Chhattisgarh Hotel and Restaurant Association has issued an advisory to hotels, restaurants, caterers and other food businesses across the state, urging them to maintain calm and avoid panic buying.
In the advisory, Taranjeet Singh Hora, president of the association, asked members to maintain coordination and immediately inform it about any major disruption in LPG supply.
He cautioned businesses against hoarding cylinders, saying such practices could worsen the situation for the entire hospitality sector.
The association advised hotels and restaurants to prioritise essential kitchen operations, core menu items and already committed banquet events.
Use electric cooking equipment wherever possible for emergency and staff kitchens such as induction cooktops, electric hot plates, electric rice cookers and kettles, the advisory stated.
