logo
Hyderabad: Teen held for impersonating officials

Hyderabad: Teen held for impersonating officials

Hans India05-06-2025
Hyderabad: The Hyderabad Cyber Crime Police have arrested a 19-year-old from Rajasthan for allegedly impersonating senior IAS and IPS officers.
Police arrested Arbaj Khan, from Bahadurpur patti Meeran, Alwar, Rajasthan. Arbaj created several fake Facebook profiles, introducing himself as senior government officials and fraudulently obtaining money from his contacts. He is involved in two cases in Telangana.
According to police, on May 12, the Cyber Crime Police received a complaint from a senior bureaucrat regarding the creation of a fake Facebook profile in his name. The fraudulent account was used to send friend requests and solicit money from the complainant's friends and relatives. The accused also used the complainant's photographs to create multiple fake profiles, falsely claiming to be a CRPF officer, and sent inappropriate and misleading messages, thereby tarnishing the reputation of high-ranking government officials and misleading the public.
He created fake Facebook and WhatsApp accounts in the names of IAS and IPS officers, trapping their colleagues and extorting money from them. He was creating fake display pictures (DPs) and impersonating them to collect money from their officials.
A team led by Inspector of Police N Ramu cracked the case.
The cyber crime police have advised the general public to remain vigilant and not to fall prey to messages or friend requests on social media platforms that claim to be from senior government officials and request money.
Always verify the authenticity of such communications through official channels. Never send money to any such persons without proper verification of their genuineness..
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Social media companies not liable for 2022 Buffalo mass shooting, New York court rules
Social media companies not liable for 2022 Buffalo mass shooting, New York court rules

The Hindu

timean hour ago

  • The Hindu

Social media companies not liable for 2022 Buffalo mass shooting, New York court rules

Several social media companies should not be held liable for helping an avowed white supremacist who killed 10 Black people in 2022 at a Buffalo, New York grocery store, a divided New York state appeals court ruled on Friday. Reversing a lower court ruling, the state Appellate Division in Rochester said defendants including Meta Platforms' Facebook and Instagram, Google's YouTube, and Reddit were entitled to immunity under a federal law that protects online platforms from liability over user content. The case arose from Payton Gendron's racially motivated mass shooting at Tops Friendly Markets on May 14, 2022. Relatives and representatives of victims, as well as store employees and customers who witnessed the attack, claimed the defendants' platforms were defective because they were designed to addict and radicalise users like Gendron. Lawyers for the plaintiffs did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Other defendants included Alphabet, Discord, 4chan, Snap and Twitch, all of which Gendron used, the mid-level state appeals court said. Writing for a 3-2 majority, Justice Stephen Lindley said holding social media companies liable would undermine the intent behind Section 230 of the federal Communications Decency Act, to promote development of and competition on the internet while keeping government interference to a minimum. While condemning Gendron's conduct and "the vile content that motivated him to assassinate Black people simply because of the color of their skin," Lindley said a liability finding would "result in the end of the Internet as we know it." "Because social media companies that sort and display content would be subject to liability for every untruthful statement made on their platforms, the Internet would over time devolve into mere message boards," he wrote. Justices Tracey Bannister and Henry Nowak dissented, saying the defendants force-fed targeted content to keep users engaged, be it videos about cooking or puppies, or white nationalist vitriol. "Such conduct does not maintain the robust nature of Internet communication or preserve the vibrant and competitive free market that presently exists for the Internet contemplated by the protections of immunity," the judges wrote. Gendron pleaded guilty to state charges including murder and terrorism motivated by hate, and was sentenced in February 2023 to life in prison without parole. He faces related federal charges that could lead to the death penalty. Questioning of potential jurors in that case is scheduled to begin in August 2026, court records show.

Travis Decker manhunt: Authorities share important update on search for murder suspect, ‘As bear hunting season opens…'
Travis Decker manhunt: Authorities share important update on search for murder suspect, ‘As bear hunting season opens…'

Hindustan Times

time2 hours ago

  • Hindustan Times

Travis Decker manhunt: Authorities share important update on search for murder suspect, ‘As bear hunting season opens…'

Police in Washington have said that they will now scale back their manhunt for Travis Decker, a triple-murder suspect accused of killing his three daughters. Decker is accused of killing his three minor daughters – Paityn Decker, 9; Evelyn Decker, 8; and Olivia Decker, 5. The three children were found murdered in Washington after being last seen leaving to be with Decker on a "planned visitation.' Travis Decker manhunt: Authorities share important update on search for murder suspect (Wenatchee Police Department) Chelan County Sheriff's Office provides update The Chelan County Sheriff's Office said in a recent news release that the search "continues with a reduced footprint while the criminal investigation remains ongoing." 'A decrease in leads and tips into the potential location of Mr. Decker has led to a reduced footprint from CCSO and other LE Agencies in the search. CCSO Detectives continue to assess evidence and search for new investigative leads,' the Facebook post reads. 'Law enforcement personnel, along with search and rescue organizations have conducted an exhaustive search for Mr. Decker of the wilderness area surrounding the initial crime scene. Information and leads received have been followed up on in several different areas with the focus remaining on the Blewett Pass and Enhancements area between Chelan and Kittitas Counties,' it adds. The statement explained that search efforts included swift water teams, several K9 teams with various disciplines, air assets, as well as personnel on foot. It added that there is 'insufficient information to suggest that he is alive, nor if he is deceased.' The most recent area where a search was conducted was Blewett Pass area, north of the Mineral Springs campground. However, the Chelan County Sheriff's Office explained that 'the potential evidence and intelligence gathered in this area are inconclusive, meaning we cannot confirm any of the information is directly associated with Mr. Decker.' The statement added, 'As bear hunting season opens in August, and others continue their outdoor pursuits, we strongly encourage everyone venturing out into these areas remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities, persons, or items they may come across by reporting it to 911 immediately. We also ask those who do come across something to mark the location using GPS or other marking form if they are able to, and even take pictures if it is safe. CCSO Detectives remain actively engaged in processing evidence and will continue to follow up on leads or tips as they come in.' The sheriff's office added that Decker 'should be considered armed and dangerous,' and that the United States Marshals Service is offering a reward of up to $20,000 for information leading to Decker's arrest. Anyone who spots Decker has been urged to call 911, and advised not to approach or contact him. Those with information have been asked to contact the nearest U.S. Marshals office, the U.S. Marshals Service Communications Center at 1-800-336-0102, or USMS Tips at

SIT questions complainant in Dharmasthala mass burial case
SIT questions complainant in Dharmasthala mass burial case

Hindustan Times

time3 hours ago

  • Hindustan Times

SIT questions complainant in Dharmasthala mass burial case

The interrogation of a former sanitation worker, who claimed to have buried hundreds of bodies in Dharmasthala village, continued for the second consecutive day on Sunday, with special investigation team (SIT) chief and director general of police (internal security) Pronab Mohanty personally questioning the whistle-blower, officials familiar with the matter said. The team also held detailed discussions with local authorities, scrutinised records of missing persons, and revisited earlier reports of suspicious deaths in the region (File photo) The SIT, which officially took over the case files from local police on July 25, has prioritised verifying the complainant's narrative before moving into more sensitive aspects of the probe. Officers said there are inconsistencies in the complainant's statements to the media and those given to police, thus multiple rounds of questioning is needed to establish a clear timeline. 'The complainant is at the centre of the case and his questioning will be the first step. Based on that, the next course of action will be decided,' an official in the know of the development said on condition of anonymity. The officer added, 'There are inconsistencies in his version of events. Before proceeding further, we need to establish a coherent timeline and verify the facts.' The team also held detailed discussions with local authorities, scrutinised records of missing persons, and revisited earlier reports of suspicious deaths in the region, officials said. Investigators also interacted with residents in and around Dharmasthala and inspected specific sites believed to be associated with the allegations, they said. The complainant, whose identity has been kept confidential, has been granted protection under the Witness Protection Scheme, 2018. Local police have also approached the court for permission to conduct brain mapping and narco-analysis tests, though these procedures require the complainant's consent. 'The tests are being considered to assess the veracity of his account. But these will only be done if the complainant agrees and it will not be considered evidence in the court,' an officer said. The SIT, headed by Mohanty, consists of deputy inspector general of police (recruitment) MN Anucheth and IPS officers Soumyalatha SK and Jitendra Kumar Dayama. Twenty police personnel — inspectors, sub-inspectors, head constables and constables — from Udupi, Dakshina Kannada and Uttara Kannada have also been deployed to the SIT. The SIT is currently in the first phase of its investigation, focusing entirely on fact-verification, officials said, adding that the next phase, possibly involving the exhumation of alleged burial sites, will be initiated only after this phase is completed. 'Exhumation depends entirely on what emerges from the first phase,' an officer said. Officials said a dedicated SIT office will soon be established in Dharmasthala to coordinate further action. The present case originated from an FIR registered on July 4, based on a complaint by a former sanitation worker who alleged that he was forced to bury numerous bodies during his tenure in Dharmasthala between 1995 and 2014. According to the complaint, many of the deceased were allegedly victims of sexual violence and murder. The man also claimed that his own relative had been assaulted, prompting him to flee the town in fear. According to officers, further investigation could include the creation of a database of the potential victims and eventually a DNA database. But the process is expected to be tough. The SIT is also coordinating with local law enforcement to retrieve historical police records, including FIRs and missing persons reports from the period in question. The fact that Dharmasthala didn't have a police station until 2016, complicates this process. Investigators say this effort will involve combing through 20 years of documents, some of which may be incomplete or missing altogether. 'But before we get to that, it all depends on whether he can point out the locations as he claims. Only then will a database be meaningful. We've been told this area was also used to bury unclaimed bodies, so verification is going to be difficult. We're hoping that details from old missing persons cases and information shared with police helplines, especially in instances where first information reports (FIRs) were not registered, will help us build that database,' the officer added. According to investigators, while extracting DNA from remains is possible, finding the match would be tough. But the biggest challenge will be establishing rape and murder as only skeletal remains will remain. (With PTI inputs)

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store