Police inspectors accused of lakh level payouts in cyber fraud freeze cases
An internal inquiry has begun in a police commissionerate after allegations surfaced that a group of inspectors in a special wing, along with their superior, collected money from cyber-fraud suspects and local businessmen to “unfreeze” bank accounts.
Cyber-fraud victims routinely approach police after losing money, and many spend days moving between the police station and banks. Meanwhile, according to officials, some inspectors allegedly struck deals with suspects and businessmen, demanding payments to expedite the unfreezing of accounts.
Modus operandi flagged by senior officials
In cybercrime cases, victims first call 1930, after which the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre freezes the primary suspect’s account. Investigators then identify the secondary accounts through which fraudsters routed money, and those accounts are also frozen.
Fraudsters typically divert the stolen money into multiple accounts and later withdraw cash through local businessmen on commission. These businessmen’s accounts often contain both regular business transactions and money transferred by fraudsters.
When such accounts are frozen, bankers inform them that police have issued the freeze order. Businessmen then approach the special wing. It is at this stage, officers said, that certain inspectors allegedly demanded money to “arrange” unfreezing.
Lakh level payments alleged
In one case involving an online-trading fraud, a victim reportedly lost several lakh rupees. An inspector is alleged to have collected ₹5 lakh from the accused to facilitate unfreezing of the account. Another inspector reportedly took ₹10 lakh. Several others allegedly collected amounts running into lakhs.
Sources said a senior officer in the wing was aware of these transactions and that a share was being passed upwards. Inspectors were also allegedly told to pay ₹2 lakh every month.
Senior officials have initiated an internal inquiry into the complaints.
