Hoshiarpur (Punjab): In Hoshiarpur district of Punjab, a retired ITBP officer reportedly lost nearly ₹17.52 lakh through online fraud from his bank accounts. Police have activated the Cyber Crime Team to investigate the case.
The complainant, Karnail Singh (73), a resident of Jalalpur village and a retired DSP from the ITBP, currently engaged in agriculture, told the police that he had a joint bank account with his wife and another separate account in the same bank.
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Karnail Singh said that when he visited the bank with his son on 21 February 2025, he discovered a substantial amount missing from his accounts. According to his complaint, ₹11,26,510 was allegedly withdrawn via online transactions from the joint account, leaving a balance of only ₹167. Additionally, ₹6,26,500 was allegedly siphoned off from the other account.
Police stated that a total of ₹17,52,010 was withdrawn through multiple online transactions on 2 January 2025. The case has been registered against unidentified persons, and police are investigating to identify the perpetrators.
Officials from the Cyber Crime Police Station said the case has been registered under relevant provisions of the Indian Penal Code and the Information Technology Act. Efforts to identify and apprehend the accused are ongoing.
This case raises serious concerns because the victim is a retired officer, and such a large-scale online theft questions the security and reliability of digital transaction systems.
Experts emphasize that senior citizens and retired officials must take extra precautions and cybersecurity training to protect themselves from online banking fraud. Banks and financial institutions are also urged to monitor unusual activities in digital transactions immediately.
Police have appealed to the public to maintain caution and regular monitoring of their bank accounts and online transactions. Any suspicious activity should be reported immediately to the Cyber Crime Branch or the bank.
Currently, the Hoshiarpur police and Cyber Crime Team are conducting a thorough investigation to identify the accused and take legal action.
This incident serves as a warning of how insufficient security in digital transactions can lead to significant financial losses. Coordinated responses by police and financial institutions are essential to ensure justice for victims and prevent online fraud.
