New Delhi, Sep 4: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has launched a nationwide crackdown on organised syndicates involved in digital arrest crimes, conducting coordinated searches at 89 locations across 20 states under Operation Chakra-VI, the national probe agency said on Friday.

During the operation, the CBI arrested three persons in Haryana and Kolkata for their alleged roles in receiving, layering and dispersing the fraud proceeds, it said.

The CBI has taken over several digital arrest-related cases registered in different states. In three such cases, investigators carried out extensive searches based on detailed financial and technical analysis.

The probe involved scrutiny of bank accounts, online account access data and other digital trails to identify the movement of fraud proceeds and trace the handlers and beneficiaries of the syndicates.

“One of the cases relates to BITS Pilani, where the victim was allegedly kept under digital arrest for three months and defrauded of Rs 7.67 crore by scammers posing as police officers. In another case in Gujarat, a victim was digitally detained for three months by individuals impersonating police officers and allegedly defrauded of Rs 19.24 crore. The third case, registered in Karnataka, involves a victim who was kept under digital arrest for a month and allegedly cheated of Rs 15.45 crore,” the CBI said.

The searches resulted in the seizure of banking documents, account-related records, digital devices and other material considered crucial to the investigation.

“The seized evidence is being subjected to forensic examination to establish the broader financial and technological infrastructure used by the syndicates to operate across state boundaries,” said the agency.

The CBI also arrested three accused during the operation. Their examination allegedly revealed their roles in receiving, layering and dispersing the proceeds of the fraud.

According to the agency, Akash, a resident of Haryana, received Rs 1.95 crore of the defrauded money in his bank account.

Investigators found that he had opened the account himself and transferred the funds to other accounts on the same day, indicating his alleged direct involvement in laundering the proceeds.

Raja Karmakar of Kolkata allegedly received Rs 1.5 crore of the fraud proceeds in his firm’s account. Jyoti Rani, whose account received part of the defrauded amount, allegedly withdrew some of the money in cash and transferred the remainder to other accounts to conceal its trail, the agency said.

The action comes amid growing concern over the spread of digital arrest fraud, in which cyber criminals impersonate police officers, government officials and other law-enforcement personnel to intimidate victims and force them into transferring large sums of money.

The Supreme Court has also directed the CBI to take concerted action against perpetrators and the wider networks facilitating such crimes.

The CBI said efforts are continuing to identify and apprehend other members of the wider network. Further investigation is underway, with the agency maintaining that it will pursue those involved in digital arrest crimes and organised cybercrime in accordance with the Supreme Court’s directions.

New Delhi, Sep 3: A property dealer was shot dead by three unidentified assailants outside a gym in north Delhi Narela on Thursday morning, officials said.

Police have said that they suspect the killing may be linked to an extortion attempt.

According to officials, the deceased has been identified as Pramod Dahiya, a resident of Haryana’s Sonipat district.

The incident took place at around 7 a.m. when the attackers allegedly arrived on a scooter, opened fire at Dahiya and fled the spot after the shooting, officials said.

They added that the murder seems to be connected to an extortion-related attempt.

Police teams have begun investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident and are examining CCTV camera footage from the area to identify the assailants and establish the exact sequence of events.

The body of the deceased has been sent for post-mortem examination. Police are currently investigating the case, while further details are awaited.

The Narela killing comes against the backdrop of a similar high-profile murder involving Haryanvi singer and YouTuber Ankit Baliyan, who was shot dead outside a gym in Shamli, Uttar Pradesh, on August 26.

Baliyan was attacked outside the gym by armed assailants, and investigators suspect that his murder was connected to a gang rivalry allegedly triggered by one of his songs. The case subsequently led to a major investigation by the Uttar Pradesh Police and Special Task Force.

According to the investigation, the Gogi gang is suspected to have orchestrated the killing of Baliyan.

On August 31, the Uttar Pradesh STF, along with the local police, shot dead two accused, identified as Sumit and Mohit, during an encounter. Both the suspected shooters were residents of Sonipat in Haryana and had previous criminal records.

Following the encounter, the Shamli Police announced a reward of Rs 1 lakh each for information leading to the arrest of the two remaining suspected shooters, identified as Satyam Kadyan and Aryan Sandhu.

The two accused are currently absconding, and efforts are underway to trace them.

The investigation into the Baliyan murder has also brought the name of Rakesh alias Pappu to the fore. He is suspected of being the mastermind behind the conspiracy and is currently lodged in Karnal Jail in Haryana.

Pune, Sep 3: Social media influencer Santosh Pandit was arrested from his residence in Pune during the early hours of Thursday in connection with a case of posting obscene and sexually suggestive content targeting Maharashtra Minister Chandrakant Patil and Pune Municipal Corporation corporator Mitali Kuldeep Salvekar.

Pune Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone 3), Sagar Kawade, told media that a case has been registered by Kothrud police against Pandit and he has been arrested in connection with the case.

The case was registered at around 1.28 a.m. on Thursday on a complaint filed by Sarika Ram Kamble, 36, a resident of Kothrud.

According to the complaint, Pandit allegedly uploaded objectionable posts and videos on his YouTube account, ‘@SantoshPandit6278’, targeting Chandrakant Patil and Mitali Salvekar.

One of the videos allegedly contained a remark that if Chandrakant Patil and Salvekar did not answer certain questions within two days, he would “parade” them. The complainant said the video had been viewed by around 4.53 lakh people.

In another video, Pandit allegedly used an obscene and sexually suggestive remark while referring to Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. According to the complaint, the post and video had received more than 12 lakh views.

The complainant further alleged that Pandit had circulated several posts and videos targeting Chandrakant Patil, using obscene language and gestures and making defamatory allegations against the minister.

The complaint also alleged that such content was circulated with the intention of attracting publicity, causing insult and creating misunderstanding and tension among people.

Kothrud police have registered the case under Sections 75(1)(iv), 75(3), 356(2) and 352 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, and Section 67 of the Information Technology Act, 2000.

This is the second case registered against Pandit over alleged objectionable remarks concerning Chandrakant Dada Patil. An earlier case was registered at Deccan police station in connection with alleged offensive remarks against the minister.

Police have taken Pandit into custody, and further investigation is underway.