Cuttack: The Commissionerate Police has arrested two cyber fraudsters on charges of duping Rs 39 lakhs from a person on the pretext of installing mobile phone tower of a reputed telecom company on his land.
The accused persons were identified as Anilesh Anand (23) of Bihar, and Ankit Roy (23) of West Bengal. The cops have recovered a cash amount of Rs.25,70,300, which has been returned to victim’s account, one SUV, three mobile phones, four pre-active SIM cards, two laptops, five ATM cards, seven cheque books, and 15 passbooks.
On July 4th, one Dillip Kumar Sahoo of Najarpur in Cuttack lodged a written report with Jagatpur Police Station alleging that fraudsters have swindled Rs 39,018,70 from him on the pretext of installing a mobile phone tower on his land.
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As per the complaint, the fraudsters, posing as Nodal officer of JIO, lured the complainant with lucrative offers such as cash payment of Rs.20, 00,000 as security money for 20 years, monthly rent of Rs.20, 000 and a job to one of his family members with a monthly salary of Rs.15,000.
The cybercriminals convinced Sahoo over phone call and the latter provided them sending him the required documents as he had one favourable plot for mobile tower installation.
Thereafter fraudsters shelled out an amount of Rs. 39,018,70/- from the victim through 25 fake accounts in different times citing different charges like Processing Fees, Registration fees, Commercial License, Tender filing, Tender clearance, File Verification fees, Antipollution, Billing Charges, Attachment Fees, Transport Charges, Corona Clearance Fees, income Tax, GST Charge etc.
They continued to convince the victim with false assurance for installation of JIO tower and when the victim suspected their activities as a fraud, he visited DCP Cuttack and reported about the fraud activity.
Following the complaint, a case was registered at Jagatpur PS and Smt. Renubala Tripathy, Inspr. Cyber Cell of Cuttack UPD was entrusted to investigate the case.
During the course of investigation, a special team under the guidance of DCP Cuttack proceeded to Kolkata to apprehend the fraudsters.
The team came to know that a fraud company was operating at Salt Lake City of Kolkata with eight luxury offices and more than 250 employees. They were managing a 24X7 call centre service and were engaged to contact persons all over India for installation of JIO Towers.
“The employees of this fraud company are well trained as the same style of corporate office and cheated innocent persons like this victim fraudulently by a team of experienced educated professional fraudsters. The company was managed by its Chairman and Mastermind fraudster Abhay Tiwari of Bihar. He has engaged educated persons in different sections like Account Manager, Account Supplier, clearance officer, IO officer/Head, Telecom Officer and likewise other offices.”
“Kingpin Abhay Tiwari has been arrested by Cyber Crime PS (Bidhan Nagar) Case No. 76/2020 and now lodged in Dumdum Jail in Kolkata. Two of his associates namely Anilesh Anand and Ankit Roy, both brothers-in-law of Abhay Tiwari, have been arrested by our team at Calcutta on 26.06.2021 and brought to Cuttack on 27.06.2021. Now they are continuing their Police remand here at Jagatpur PS,” read a press note from DCP, Cuttack UPD.
As per reports, the eight offices have been seized, gold ornaments purchased on fraud money freezed at Moothut Finance Kolkata and cash of Rs.25,70,300 have been returned to the victim’s account.
“More than 25 bank accounts have been seized. We have moved to the Court of ACJM Bidhan Nagar, Kolkata to bring the main accused Abhay Tiwari on remand for further interrogation and further follow-up action. Our team is working to uncover all of their fraud activities and their involvement in other Cyber fraud cases. The investigation is in progress,” the police added.
