In a shocking turn of events, Piyush Verma, son of former Kolkata Police Commissioner and current security director Manoj Verma, has become the latest victim of a cyber scam. The incident, which unfolded in Delhi, came to light when Piyush filed a complaint at Kolkata’s Lalbazar Cyber Crime Police Station on February 2.
Piyush was searching for a rental flat in the national capital and made a payment via UPI. Little did he know, fraudsters had unauthorized access to his bank account, siphoning off Rs 30,000 without his consent. Despite the crime occurring in Delhi, Piyush traveled back to Kolkata to report the matter to familiar authorities.
Acting swiftly on the complaint, Kolkata Police tracked down and arrested Rakesh Pradhan from Odisha. During interrogation, Pradhan revealed that two individuals from Delhi, identified as Sanjay and Akshay, had used his bank account for the fraudulent transaction.
Police have taken Pradhan into custody and are intensifying efforts to apprehend the Delhi duo. ‘This case is being treated with utmost seriousness,’ a senior officer stated, underscoring the growing menace of cyber crimes even targeting high-profile families.
The arrest highlights the vulnerabilities in digital payments, especially UPI transactions during routine activities like house hunting. Kolkata Police have ramped up their cyber crime division, launching a 24/7 helpline to address rising complaints.
As investigations continue, this incident serves as a stark reminder for all citizens to exercise caution with online transactions. Experts recommend double-checking recipient details and monitoring accounts regularly to prevent such frauds.
The Verma family’s prominence adds irony to the case, as their long-standing association with law enforcement now intersects with the very crimes they once combated. Authorities assure that no stone will be left unturned in dismantling this cyber fraud network.