Surat, July 2: The Surat City Police facilitated the return of Rs 2.52 crore to 61 victims of cyber fraud during the first six months of 2026, while broader recovery efforts have secured court orders for refunds totalling Rs 13.38 crore for 1,824 applicants, highlighting the growing use of legal mechanisms to recover money lost in online financial scams.

The recoveries were made under the ‘Tera Tujhko Arpan’ programme, through which 15 beneficiaries were symbolically presented refund cheques by Surat Police Commissioner Anupam Singh Gahlaut on Wednesday.

According to Surat City Police, the recoveries relate to cyber fraud complaints registered between January 1 and June 30.

Following complaints lodged through the National Cyber Crime Helpline 1930, the Surat City Cyber Crime Cell, along with all police stations in the city, coordinated with banks across several states to freeze suspect accounts and initiate the refund process.

“The Cyber Crime Cell worked in coordination with courts, Lok Adalats and banks across the country under the guidance of Police Commissioner Anupam Singh Gahlaut and Additional Police Commissioner (Crime) Karanraj Vaghela, with the process being directly supervised by Deputy Commissioner of Police (Cyber Cell) Bishakha Jain,” officials said.

During the six-month period, Surat City Police obtained court orders through Lok Adalats to facilitate the return of approximately Rs 13.38 crore to 1,824 applicants.

Police also stated that refund applications worth around Rs 7 crore involving 1,690 applicants have been submitted before the Lok Adalat scheduled for July 11.

Once court orders are received, the amounts will be credited to the respective beneficiaries’ bank accounts after completion of the required procedures.

Appealing to the public to report cyber fraud without delay, Surat City Police said victims should immediately call the helpline, as prompt reporting increases the likelihood of freezing fraudulent transactions before funds are withdrawn.

Police also advised citizens not to download unknown applications or APK files received through suspicious links or messages sent in the name of RTO challans, and warned against clicking on suspicious SMS or email links.

They urged the public to remain cautious of social media groups and advertisements promising unusually high returns through online share market investments.

“Victims of sextortion, morphed photographs, nude video calls, digital arrest scams or any other form of cyber crime were asked to report incidents immediately through the helpline or the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal,” officials added.

New Delhi, July 1: In a significant breakthrough against motor vehicle theft, an alert patrolling team of Delhi Police arrested two vehicle thieves and recovered four stolen two-wheelers from the accused, police said on Wednesday.

An official statement said that a team of Daryaganj Police Station, which was on routine patrolling duty on the intervening night of June 26 and 27, noticed two suspicious persons riding two separate scooters, at Netaji Subhash (NS) Marg near Delhi Gate area.

When signaled to stop for checking, both riders became nervous, abandoned their scooters, and attempted to flee. The police team, demonstrating promptness and vigilance, chased and apprehended both suspects after a brief pursuit, officials said.

Subsequently, FIR No. 014688/2026 dated 27.06.2026, U/S 305(B)/317(2)/3(5) BNS, PS Darya Ganj, was registered and investigation was taken up.

The statement further said that the successful operation was carried out by HC Chunniram, Ct. Gaurav under the supervision of INSP./SHO PS Dariyaganj and all over supervision of ACP Daryaganj .

The police personnel’s alert patrolling, swift response and timely action led to the arrest of both accused and recovery of multiple stolen vehicles, including two scooters and two motorcycles.

Both the accused, identified as Mohd. Shadman and Mohd. Kaif are 19-year-olds and residents of the national Capital’s Daryaganj area.

During interrogation, both accused failed to produce any valid ownership or registration documents for the scooters in their possession. Verification through the ZIPNET/internal vehicle database confirmed that both scooters had been stolen, investigators said.

During sustained interrogation and on the basis of their disclosure statements, two additional stolen motorcycles were recovered. Further investigation is in progress to ascertain their involvement in other auto-lifting cases across the district as well as the national Capital.

In all, police have recovered four two-wheelers from both the accused, that include a TVS Ntorq Scooter, Suzuki Burgman Scooter, Hero Splendor Plus Motorcycle, Honda Shine Motorcycle.

Officials said that all recovered vehicles have been seized in accordance with the relevant provisions of law.

Mumbai, July 1: Singer Reetu Sharma, who had performed at a function of Ketan Agarwal’s family on May 7, said that she is “constantly reminded” of his warm nature and words from that day as she demanded strict punishment for the accused.

An old video of Ketan Agarwal dancing with his and his fiancee – and murder accused — Siya Goyal’s parents at a family function in Pune was posted on Instagram by the singer on Tuesday night.

Among the two videos posted on social media, the first shows Ketan’s father, Vishal Agarwal, and Siya’s parents – Pravin Goyal and Pooja Goyal – standing close to each other along with other relatives, while Vishal Agarwal is seen grooving with singer Sharma.

Seconds later, Ketan is seen dancing with Siya’s father, Pravin, to a popular Bollywood song.

Speaking to media, Sharma noted that she was contacted by the Agarwal family through an event management company and has already performed in three to four functions of the family.

The singer further said that she got to know about the alleged murder of Ketan from the social media status of a member of the Agarwal family.

“This function was held on May 7 in Nashik. The occasion was the wedding ritual of Ketan’s cousin (paternal aunt’s daughter) which the Goyal family also attended,” she said.

Denying any sense of enmity between the families, she said: “Both families were happy and very much involved. In fact, both Ketan and Siya’s parents were dancing together and, as seen in the videos, Ketan’s father was even singing with me.”

Noting that the incident deeply impacted her, Sharma said: “I was constantly recalling Ketan’s face and his words from the function on that day. I cannot forget the style in which he told me ‘Maa’m, you are superb; amazing, and please take your lunch’, after the function. Because after such functions we are usually tired, but the way he kept on persuading me till I had my lunch keeps coming back to me.”

Meanwhile, sharing the video, the singer wrote: “On 7th May, we did a program in their family. Where you all can see they are all happily enjoying the program. How happy both the families were. We saw Ketan from our own eyes. Such an innocent child. Who knew this will happen to this beautiful soul (sic).”

Sharma called for strict punishment for Siya, saying: “Just because she did not like him doesn’t mean she can take someone’s life. She did think about her parents that if she ran with her boyfriend, society would blame her and her parents. But what about Ketan’s parents? She did not think what they will go through??”

“Why saying NO is more difficult than taking someone’s life? We want justice for Ketan! She should be pushed from that fort where she pushed Ketan and killed him,” she added.