Daijiworld Media Network- Kasargod
Kasaragod, Mar 12: In a major breakthrough, the Kasaragod police have arrested a 24-year-old food delivery and bike taxi driver from Jodhpur for his alleged involvement in a cyber fraud case where a doctor was duped of Rs 2.23 cr.
The accused, Sunil Kumar Jhanwar, was nabbed from Mathura Das Mathur Hospital, where he was attending to his ailing father. A four-member police team, led by sub-inspector Sreedasan M V, had been tracking him in Jodhpur for eight days. Despite Jhanwar changing his residence to evade arrest, the police managed to capture him just 45 minutes before the departure of the only weekly train at 11:30 pm.
The case dates back to a cyber scam that targeted a 42-year-old doctor from Vellore, Tamil Nadu. Fraudsters lured the victim by offering part-time online jobs through Telegram. Initially, small payments were made to gain trust, but later, they coaxed the doctor into investing large sums for "premium" job offers. Unknown to him, the exclusive Telegram group he was added to was filled with fake profiles controlled by the fraudsters.
In just 19 days, between May 17 and June 4, the doctor transferred a staggering Rs 2.23 cr to 18 different accounts spread across Rajasthan, Jammu & Kashmir, Bihar, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, and Delhi. To maintain his trust, the scammers even returned Rs 87,125.
During the investigation, it was found that Jhanwar had received Rs 18 lac in his bank account, which he later withdrew using three cheques from his Axis Bank account in Jodhpur. When arrested, his account had no remaining funds.
This cyber fraud network was being operated by multiple individuals, with two key suspects—Muhammed Noushad A T (45) from Payyannur and Harshavardhan R (21) from Kochi—already in police custody. Noushad, a serial cybercriminal, managed several bank accounts used for laundering the scammed money. He recruited students and homemakers, convincing them to open bank accounts in exchange for commissions. Harshavardhan, one of his recruits, opened 10 bank accounts through which Rs 40 lac was routed.
The Kerala High Court had granted anticipatory bail to Harshavardhan on January 27, while Noushad was arrested on February 13. Meanwhile, police successfully recovered Rs 10.79 lac from a UCO Bank account in Delhi and returned it to the victim through court proceedings.
With efforts now focused on recovering the remaining Rs 2.23 cr, Kasaragod cyber police are intensifying their probe into the money trail. The funds received in Harshavardhan’s accounts were allegedly collected by Noushad. Authorities are planning to seek the custody of Sunil Kumar Jhanwar to uncover further details about the fraud network and its masterminds.
How to stay safe
Vigilance is the key to avoiding such scams. If you receive such calls, neverfall for the trap. Remember, police officials never initiate cases online or ask for money.
Most importantly, the term “digital arrest” is fabricated by scammers and doesnot exist in Indian law. If someone threatens you with it, it is undoubtedly a scam.
Additionally, never share bank details, OTPs, or other sensitive information over phone calls or messages, regardless of the caller’s claims. If you suspecta scam, report it to the authorities and your bank immediately. Quick action can help prevent further losses.