The Delhi Police have arrested two men for their involvement in a scholarship fraud targeting Tamil-speaking residents of Tamil Nadu and recovered a mobile phone containing data of approximately 54,000 contacts, including that of the complainant.

The accused, identified as Sachin Sharma, 29, and Sumit, facilitated the movement of the cheated money through a mule bank account in exchange for commission. The case was worked out by the East District Cyber Police Station through an analysis of banking records, ATM CCTV footage and digital evidence.

According to the police, the case originated from a complaint filed by Muthu Kumar, a resident of Tamil Nadu, who was allegedly offered a scholarship for higher education. On the pretext of securing the scholarship, he was induced to transfer approximately Rs 17,989 online on September 1.

The complainant subsequently reported the incident on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal. The financial trail led investigators to a Bank of India account from which the money was withdrawn through an ATM in East Delhi. An FIR was registered under Sections 112(2) and 318(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

During the investigation, police examined bank records and ATM footage and identified Sachin as the person who withdrew the money. He was arrested on October 17. During interrogation, he disclosed that he had provided his sister’s ATM card and UPI access details to Sumit in exchange for commission.

Sachin withdrew Rs 10,000, transferred Rs 8,000 through the UPI details provided by Sumit and received Rs 3,000 as commission. He claimed that he was unaware that the money was linked to cyber fraud.

Based on his disclosure, police arrested Sumit on October 21 and recovered a Samsung S26 mobile phone. Examination of the device revealed Excel files shared through WhatsApp containing details of approximately 54,000 contacts, including the complainant’s information.

Police said Sumit disclosed that a woman known to him had sent the files on August 6. She allegedly targeted Tamil-speaking families whose children had completed school and were seeking admission to higher education, using scholarship offers to induce them to transfer money.

Sumit claimed that he was asked to print the contact database and arrange a bank account to receive the ‘cheated money’. He allegedly handed over the funds to the woman and an associate.

The role of the woman and her associates is under investigation. Police are examining the recovered device to identify additional victims, financial transactions and other links to the suspected network.

A 40-year-old man and his 11-year-old son died after falling from the 23rd floor of a residential tower at Mahagun Mywoods Society in Greater Noida in Uttar Pradesh’s Gautam Buddha district, on Friday, while reportedly plucking flowers for a puja, police said.

The incident took place in the Bisrakh police station area and triggered panic in the residential society, leaving the family devastated.

According to preliminary information, the father, identified as Randeep Patra, son of Amal Kumar Patra, and his son, Aarav, had gone to the balcony to pluck flowers for the morning puja.

During the process, the child slipped and fell from the balcony. The father reportedly attempted to save him but lost his balance and fell from the 23rd floor as well.

According to police, the Bisrakh police station received information through a Police Response Vehicle (PRV) on Friday about two people falling from a height at Tower 23 of Mahagun Mywoods Society.

A police team immediately reached the spot and found the father and son critically injured. They were rushed to a nearby hospital, where doctors declared them dead.

During the preliminary inquiry, the deceased man’s wife told the police that she had to leave early on Friday morning to visit the Khatu Shyam Temple. Her husband and son had gone to the balcony to collect flowers for the morning puja before her departure.

Initial information suggests that the child slipped while collecting flowers and was left hanging from the balcony, prompting his father to intervene. However, the father also lost his balance, causing both to fall.

Police said the exact circumstances leading to the incident would be established after a detailed investigation. All aspects of the case are being examined.

After completing the necessary inquest proceedings, the police initiated the process of sending the bodies for post-mortem examination.

Further legal proceedings are underway.

The Delhi Police on Thursday lodged a First Information Report (FIR) against unknown persons in connection with an incident involving vandalism and damage to property at the Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI), officials said.

According to the police, the case has been registered at Jamia Nagar Police Station, on the complaint of the varsity administration.

This is the second FIR registered in connection with the ongoing students’ protests at the university in recent days.

Earlier, the Delhi Police had registered an FIR at the Jamia Nagar police station against Congress MPs Imran Pratapgarhi and Imran Masood, as well as Samajwadi Party MP Mohibbullah Nadvi, following a complaint by Jamia Millia Islamia registrar Md. Mahtab Alam Rizvi.

Rizvi had alleged that the Congress MPs entered the campus without authorisation on separate occasions, amid the ongoing agitation.

Students of the university have been staging a hunger strike since October 12 demanding the restoration of the Jamia Millia Islamia Students’ Union (JMISU) and the removal of the University’s Chief Proctor over a “crackdown” on protesters.

Meanwhile, on Wednesday, the university expressed deep shock, disappointment, and concern regarding the incidents that took place on Tuesday night, which involved vandalism and damage to university property.

The varsity said that upon receiving reports of attacks on the campus, the proctorial team and JMI faculty members immediately arrived on the spot.

“They discovered that groups of protesting students and local residents had vandalised University gates and walls, brought down Gate No. 4C, pelted stones, and damaged the CCTV control room and cameras, while also severing their connections. It is reported that a group of masked protesters even reached the University’s boys’ hostel in an attempt to mobilise more individuals to join them,” the JMI said in a statement.

According to the University, viral social media videos posted by the protesting students themselves show extensive damage inflicted upon JMI property.

“This has left the university community deeply distressed and outraged,” it said.

“Most concerning is the fact that the vandalism began shortly after members of the protesting student committee had been in discussions with JMI faculty (this marked the seventh such attempt at dialogue initiated by the university administration),” the University said.