Follow us on Google News
Puducherry cyber crime police have arrested five individuals in connection with the fraudulent diversion of 8.84 crore rupees from the bank account of the Government Dental College. The funds had been transferred directly from the state treasury into the institution’s HDFC Bank account to disburse staff salaries, but the entire sum vanished through unauthorized electronic transactions within hours of arrival. Following a formal complaint registered this month, investigators tracked the money trail and took the suspects into custody. Four of the accused are residents of Tamil Nadu while the fifth hails from West Bengal, and a local court has remanded all five to judicial custody.
Traced Account Network Leads to Initial Arrests
The cyber crime unit initiated an urgent tracking operation targeting the beneficiary destinations where the diverted funds landed. During preliminary scrutiny, transactions passing through three specific current accounts raised immediate red flags. The digital footprints gathered from these banking operations enabled the police to track down and detain the suspects, who have been identified as Pechimuthu, J. Ramesh, Prabhakaran, Dharmendran, and Somnath Sen.
Investigators indicated that the inquiry will expand significantly, as ten additional bank accounts suspected of being utilized for similar fraudulent transfers are under review. Examining these remaining accounts will help police identify the end beneficiaries of the siphon operation and establish if any further conspirators facilitated the network. The investigating team is currently analyzing the banking channels to trace the full flow of funds.
Nigerian National Held for Gift Parcel Swindle
In a separate online fraud inquiry, Puducherry cyber police arrested a Nigerian national accused of duping a local resident of 12.59 lakh rupees through a social media friendship scheme. The suspect, identified as Modestus Okeji, was temporarily residing in the Sangam Vihar area of Delhi. A special team from the Puducherry police took him into custody in the capital and brought him back for formal processing.
The case originated from a complaint by a resident of Mudaliarpet who befriended a profile using the name Florence Chimason on Facebook. As the conversation transitioned to WhatsApp, the contact promised to send expensive presents, including an iPhone and designer footwear. Subsequently, impostors claiming to be Delhi customs officers contacted the victim, stating that gold jewelry had been detected inside the consignment and demanded clearance fees. The complainant complied and transferred a total of 12.59 lakh rupees into the nominated bank accounts.
Interstate Fraud Links and Police Advisory
The fraud surfaced after the victim demanded official payment receipts, prompting the alleged customs officials to sever all communication. Police investigations revealed that the arrested national faces accusations in multiple cyber fraud cases spanning Kerala, Delhi, Gujarat, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Punjab, where he allegedly swindled victims out of nearly 3 crore rupees using the same modus operandi. Police are probing his previous cases and the potential involvement of collaborators.
Puducherry police have urged the public to exercise vigilance when interacting with unknown foreign contacts on social platforms. Authorities cautioned citizens against paying money under the guise of customs duty, taxes, or clearance penalties for parcels sent from overseas. Victims of cyber fraud have been advised to lodge immediate reports by calling the national cyber crime helpline at 1930 or through the official cyber crime reporting portal.
