Mumbai: Senior citizen loses Rs 1.90 lakh as 'cop' on phone threatens action for 'money laundering'

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A 65-year-old man was allegedly duped by a cyber fraudster who posed as a Mumbai Police official on the phone and forced him to transfer Rs 1.90 lakh in a bank account threatening action for 'money laundering', reported news agency PTI.

The complainant received a call on April 25 from an unknown number. The caller claimed he was a police inspector from the cyber police station in Andheri, Mumbai. He told the complainant that he was involved in money laundering activities, a Nagpur Police official said on Sunday, reported PTI.

"The complainant panicked and made an online transfer of Rs 1.90 lakh in the bank account on directions of the caller," he said. The man later realised that he had been cheated and approached police, reported PTI.

A case has been registered under the provisions of the Indian Penal Code and the Information Technology Act.

In another case, the arrest of a habitual offender who has allegedly committed a string of burglaries in Mumbai has left the police stunned as the investigation suggested that it was his mother who made him consume drugs before he stepped out to commit the crime, reported PTI.

The accused man, identified as Krishna Ravi Maheskar, 24, has more than 22 cases of housebreaking pending against him in various police stations across Mumbai, an official said on Sunday, reported PTI.

"Maheskar is a habitual offender. His mother Vijeta Maheskar (50) played a vital role in all his criminal activities. She used to give him drugs before sending him out to commit housebreaking. She also used to dispose of the stolen property," said Kalachowki police station sub-inspector Rajendra Chavan, reported PTI.

He said police are yet to arrest Vijeta Maheskar who is on the run, reported PTI.

The mother and son are residents of the Kalachowki area in central Mumbai, reported PTI.

Notably, the accused man used to commit burglary a day after he was released on bail in any criminal case, reported PTI.

In the fresh case, Maheskar was arrested from Agripada area, the official said, adding that further investigation is underway.

(With inputs from PTI)