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 The financial trail led investigators to a Bank of India account from which the money was withdrawn through an ATM in East Delhi.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.

BJP leaders on Friday criticised Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and the Opposition parties over their protest against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, accusing them of misleading people and questioning the credibility of constitutional institutions for political purposes.

BJP leader Ram Kadam alleged that Rahul Gandhi’s conduct and recent actions were undermining the reputation of constitutional institutions, including the judiciary and the Election Commission of India (ECI).

“Rahul Gandhi’s conduct, character and recent actions are an insult to constitutional institutions and damage their reputation. On one hand, they claim to respect the Constitution, while on the other, they put political pressure on constitutional institutions such as the judiciary and the Election Commission,” Kadam told media.

He said those who had concerns regarding the electoral rolls should come forward with evidence and suggestions instead of staging protests.

“If you have any concerns, evidence or suggestions, come forward and present them. The deadline for submitting claims regarding voter list revisions has also been extended, and those whose names are missing can raise their concerns. They have no evidence or suggestions and are only trying to mislead people. You cannot win politics by misleading people,” he added.

The BJP leader’s remarks came amid the Congress-led Opposition’s campaign against the SIR exercise and its preparations for a rally at Delhi’s Ramlila Maidan on November 1, demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the revision of electoral rolls.

Chhattisgarh Minister Guru Khushwant Saheb also criticised the Congress over their protest in Delhi, accusing them of spreading confusion and attempting to disturb the country’s peaceful atmosphere.

“The way the CJP and Congress party are trying to instigate, spread confusion, and spread lies to the citizens of the entire country, and somewhere trying to spoil the harmonious and peaceful atmosphere that exists in the whole country, it seems they are trying to make India into Bangladesh. But the citizens of India will not let it become Bangladesh, because all of us, our belief is in democracy, our belief is in our Constitution, which was made by Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar,” he said.

Meanwhile, BJP Telangana State president Ramchander Rao targeted Congress over its allegations concerning voter deletions, citing remarks by Karnataka Minister Satish Jarkiholi that, according to Rao, indicated that the deleted votes were genuine.

“The false campaign over SIR continues despite Karnataka Minister Satish Jarkiholi stating that there has been no deletion of votes and that the deleted votes were genuine. Congress must explain why it is spreading this misinformation,” Rao told media.

He maintained that people whose names had been deleted from the electoral rolls could seek their re-inclusion by submitting an application along with proof of residence and any of the 12 identity documents recognised by the Election Commission of India.

The BJP leaders’ statements came as preparations gathered pace for the Congress rally at Ramlila Maidan, in support of their demand for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the SIR process.

Police personnel have begun positioning themselves around the 12-acre Ramlila Maidan, installing baggage-screening devices and metal detectors as security arrangements are strengthened ahead of the November 1 rally.