In an impressive display of investigative prowess and swift financial tracing, the Cyber Crime & Economic Offences Police Station, Sambalpur, has achieved a significant breakthrough by recovering and restoring a total of ₹35,50,000/- in fraudulent money over the last two months.
Adding to this remarkable achievement, the team also successfully retrieved 100 lost or stolen mobile phones, bringing immense relief and satisfaction back to affected citizens.
Breakdown of Key Recoveries & High-Value Case Solves
Through meticulous tracking of digital transaction trails and freeze-requests dispatched to financial institutions, officers successfully secured significant portions of stolen funds across multiple registered cases:
- Lipak Pradhan Case (PS Case No. 23/2026): Following a massive reported fraud of ₹25,00,000/-, the police successfully recovered ₹15,50,000/-. Furthermore, officers seized physical gold ornaments that the fraudster had purchased using the remaining stolen proceeds.
- Sunil Kumar Sahu Case (PS Case No. 24/2026): Against a reported loss of ₹6,94,888/-, police retrieved ₹6,12,000/-. The remaining balance has been successfully placed on hold in the suspect’s account and will soon be credited back to the victim.
- Hemanta Biswal Case (Cyber PS Case No. 38/2026): Out of a reported fraud totaling ₹37,89,000/-, an amount of ₹2,11,000/- has been recovered so far, with further tracking underway.
- Jagannath Ghosh Case (Town Police Station): Police successfully retrieved ₹2,08,000/- against a reported scam of ₹2,67,000/-.
- Satyam Meher Case (Cyber PS GD No. 04, dt. 04.10.2026): Officers recovered ₹1,05,000/- against a loss of ₹3,50,000/-.
- General Fraud Recoveries: An additional sum of ₹2,25,075/- was secured from various individual cyber fraud complaints.
Direct Relief via Money Restoration Module (MRM) Portal
Beyond case-specific police seizures, the unit made extensive use of the Money Restoration Module (MRM) Portal to bypass bureaucratic delays and credit funds directly back to victims.
A total of ₹6,38,925/- was restored directly to 74 victims through this streamlined portal. Officials confirmed that ongoing efforts are actively being made to resolve remaining pending restoration claims in close coordination with commercial banks and payment gateways.
100 Lost & Stolen Mobile Phones Restored to Owners
In addition to financial recoveries, the Sambalpur Police hit a major milestone in physical property recovery by successfully tracing 100 stolen and lost mobile phones. Using IMEI tracking systems and cyber intelligence, these devices were retrieved and are being handed back to their rightful owners, cutting down black-market phone trafficking in the region.
Public Advisory: The Golden Hour Rule in Cyber Fraud
Issuing a stern warning to the public, the Sambalpur Cyber Police urged citizens to stay vigilant against rampant online threats, including:
- Fake high-return investment schemes
- Fraudulent customer-care phone numbers on search engines
- Impersonation scams (posing as government officials, police, or bank officers)
- Malicious phishing links received via SMS, WhatsApp, or email
What to do if you are scammed: Speed is critical when dealing with financial cyber fraud. Reporting within the first “Golden Hour” dramatically increases the chances of freezing the funds before fraudsters can cash out.
- 📞 Immediate Helpline: Call 1930 immediately to register financial fraud.
- 🌐 Official Portal: File an official complaint at www.cybercrime.gov.in.
The Cyber Crime & Economic Offences Police Station, Sambalpur, reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to protecting citizens’ hard-earned money and keeping the digital space safe for everyone.
