Panchkula Police have arrested a key suspect in a ₹2.34 crore cyber fraud case that targeted an 80-year-old retired Army Colonel. The accused, identified as Harjot Singh alias Samar, hails from Ludhiana, Punjab, and was taken into custody on August 12.
This marks the second arrest in the case, following the earlier detention of co-accused Govind Singh Randhawa, who is currently in judicial custody. Police said the arrests were part of an ongoing investigation to dismantle the entire fraud network.
How the Colonel Was Tricked into Losing His Life Savings
The case dates back to September 11, 2024, when Colonel (Retd.) Jagwant Singh, a resident of Sector 2, Panchkula, filed a complaint with the Cyber Crime Police Station.
According to his statement, he received a WhatsApp message from a man claiming to be an employee of a stock market investment firm. The scammer promised high returns on investments and gradually won the Colonel’s trust. Over time, the fraudster manipulated him into transferring a staggering ₹2.34 crore into accounts controlled by the accused.
Data Protection and DPDP Act Readiness: Hundreds of Senior Leaders Sign Up for CDPO Program
Based on the complaint, an FIR was registered, and investigators began tracing the money trail and digital footprints.
Prior Criminal Record and Ongoing Investigation
Police revealed that Harjot Singh has previous cyber fraud cases registered against him in Gurugram and Ludhiana. His arrest on August 12 led to his production before the court, which remanded him to two days of police custody for interrogation.
Authorities are now working to identify other members of the syndicate and uncover the full extent of the fraud. Investigators believe the scam was part of a larger, organised cybercrime network operating across multiple states.
The police have urged the public, especially senior citizens, to remain cautious of unsolicited investment offers over social media and messaging platforms, noting that such scams are becoming increasingly sophisticated.