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News18
14 hours ago
- News18
Retired Scientist Duped Of ₹1.29 Crore In 'Digital Arrest' Scam; Two Held In Lucknow
Last Updated: According to officials, UP STF has arrested two individuals—Pradeep Kumar Singh and Mahfooz—from Shaheed Path in Lucknow in connection with the case. In a case of cyber fraud from the national capital, a retired scientist was duped of ₹1.29 crore by fraudsters posing as CBI officers who threatened him with a fake 'digital arrest." The scam has prompted serious concerns about rising cybercrime targeting senior citizens and professionals. According to officials, the Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF) has arrested two individuals, Pradeep Kumar Singh and Mahfooz, from Shaheed Path in Lucknow in connection with the case. The accused had allegedly coerced the victim, Sukdev Nandi, into transferring the huge sum under fear of arrest and legal consequences. Pradeep Kumar Singh is the director of a company named Narayani Infra Developer Private Limited. Investigations revealed that he received the defrauded amount in his company's ICICI Bank corporate account. Notably, Singh was also compensated in cryptocurrency for his role in the fraud and received 871 units of crypto via the Binance app, according to the STF. Mahfooz, the second accused, also received ₹9 lakh from the defrauded sum in his bank account. Authorities suspect that the money was laundered through multiple layers and converted to digital currency to evade detection. The case was initially registered in Bareilly and is currently being probed by the Bareilly Cyber Crime Cell. Several other suspects remain at large, and the STF has been tasked with tracking them down. The scam came to light after Sukdev Nandi, the retired scientist, filed a complaint stating that he was impersonated and threatened by someone claiming to be a CBI officer. Fearing arrest and public embarrassment, he complied with the fraudsters' instructions and transferred the money. Authorities have urged citizens to remain cautious and not respond to coercive calls from individuals posing as government officials. view comments First Published: July 14, 2025, 11:06 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Time of India
a day ago
- Time of India
Digi Arrest: STF nabs two for duping scientist of ₹1.29 crore
Lucknow: The UP Special Task Force (STF) on Sunday arrested two members of a cyber fraud gang near Ekana Stadium for extorting Rs 1.29 crore from a retired scientist by subjecting him to a three-day-long 'digital arrest' while posing as CBI officers. The arrested accused have been identified as Pradeep Kumar Singh (50), a native of Ayodhya currently residing in Sector 6C, Vrindavan Yojna, and running Narayani Infra Developers Pvt Ltd; and Mahfooz (21), a resident of Nabeullah Road, Wazirganj, who was arrested near Faizabad Road. According to police, the victim, Shukdev Nandi, a retired scientist from the Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI) in Bareilly, was contacted via WhatsApp by gang members impersonating CBI officials. Using fear and intimidation, they digitally confined him and forced him to transfer Rs 1.29 crore into various accounts over three days. The victim lodged a complaint at the Bareilly cyber police station on June 26, leading to an FIR under Sections 318(4), 319(2), 308(6), 61(2), and 111 of the BNS, along with Section 66D of the IT Act. The initial investigation by Bareilly Police identified Pradeep as a key accused. Four members of the gang were arrested on July 5. Both accused have been handed over to the local police for further legal action.
