Kozhikode City: The Kozhikode City Cyber Police has successfully arrested the prime accused and a co-conspirator involved in a cyber-fraud case where Rs.4 crore was extorted. The accused, exploiting the complainant’s sympathy, used fake photos, voice messages, and misleading information, claiming they were in financial distress due to job loss during the COVID-19 pandemic and had a family in debt. They contacted the complainant via WhatsApp and phone, pleading for help. When the complainant requested repayment, the accused fabricated stories about the need to sell family property, ongoing communal riots, and even alleged suicides and murders, impersonating high-ranking police officers to threaten and extort money.
The Kozhikode City Cyber Police, led by Arun K Pavithran I.P.S., investigated the case and tracked the culprits to Badi Sadari, Chittorgarh in Rajasthan, as well as Allot and Ujjain in Madhya Pradesh. The investigation team, which included Inspector Ankit Singh I.P.S., Ranjith K.R., ASIs Jitesh Valangot and Rajesh Chalikkara, and Senior Civil Police Officers Naufal K.M. and Febin K.R., conducted raids and arrested the main accused, Sunil Dangi (48), and co-accused Sheetal Kumar Mehta (28) in Badi Sadari.
The investigation revealed that Sunil Dangi had siphoned off the money through bank accounts linked to gambling centers in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, while the co-accused assisted in the scheme. The extorted money was found to be used in casinos and online gambling. The police seized mobile phones, bank account details, and checkbooks used in the crime and recovered WhatsApp chats and bank transactions as evidence.
The main accused, Amit Jain from Dumgarpur, Rajasthan, initiated contact with the complainant in January, concocting a story about his family’s dire situation, claiming that his mother and sister were on the verge of death, and that the family was entangled in a police case due to a communal conflict. He sent a fake suicide note, threatening the complainant with murder charges and physical harm to extort further funds. Both accused have been remanded by the court.
