Cyber Scam

Retired Kerala High Court Judge Sasidharan Nambiar Falls Victim to Cyber Scam

Retired Kerala High Court Judge Sasidharan Nambiar recently fell victim to a cyber fraud, losing ₹90 lakh through a fake share trading app. According to police, Justice Nambiar was lured into using a bogus app named ‘Adithya Birla,’ which bears a deceptive resemblance to the well-known financial firm Aditya Birla Group. The Hill Palace Police Station in Tripunithura has registered a case and initiated an investigation into the scam.

The fraud began when Justice Nambiar was added to a WhatsApp group named ‘Adithya Birla.’ Subsequently, he received a link promoting a share trading platform that promised an astounding 850% return on investments. Between December 4 and December 30, 2024, he transferred approximately ₹90 lakh to the scammers. However, neither the promised profits nor the principal amount were returned.

A case has been registered against individuals identified as Ayana Joseph and Varsha Singh, believed to be pseudonyms used by the fraudsters. The investigation has now been transferred to Kochi Cyber Police for further scrutiny. Justice Nambiar, who resides in Eroor, Kochi, retired in 2013.

As per the FIR, ₹90 lakh was transferred through IMPS and RTGS between December 12 and December 30, 2024. The police have charged the suspects under IPC Sections 316(4) (criminal breach of trust), 318(4) (cheating and dishonestly inducing property delivery), and Section 66D of the IT Act (cheating by impersonation). The case was registered on January 5 following Justice Nambiar’s complaint.

“We are investigating the bank accounts where the money was transferred. It appears these accounts were created under fake identities. Efforts are underway to trace the account holders, and the accounts will be frozen soon,” a police officer said.

The incident highlights the alarming rise in cyber fraud cases in Kerala. In 2024 alone, over ₹700 crore was swindled by cybercriminals in the state. Police also blocked nearly 36,000 bank accounts linked to organized scams. Such cases are increasing at an unprecedented rate each year.

Key Takeaways

  1. Never click any links on WhatsApp.
  2. Always download and install apps via Google Play Store.
  3. Never respond to fake phone calls.
  4. Never share your personal details and OTP via phone even if the caller claims that he is from bank.
  5. Bank will never ask for any information via phone.

Comments

No comments yet. Why don’t you start the discussion?

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *