Tricity
Karnal man held from Gujarat in ₹26-lakh cyber fraud case
Police identified the suspect as Shankar Pansari, alias Shankar Rajput, and handed the case to the CBI after a Supreme Court‑mandated re‑registration.
A man from Karnal who had been living in Gujarat was taken into custody this week, police said, after investigators linked him to a ₹26‑lakh cyber fraud scheme.
The accused has been identified as Shankar Pansari, also known as Shankar Rajput. He was apprehended by Gujarat police and subsequently transferred to the State Cyber Crime Cell in Bhopal, which handed the matter to the Central Bureau of Investigation for re‑registration of the case, as ordered by the Supreme Court.
The Supreme Court had earlier directed that cyber‑crime matters involving large sums of money be examined afresh by a central agency to ensure fairness and proper registration, prompting the state unit to forward the file to the CBI.
Authorities say the fraud involved the diversion of funds through online accounts, with the victim reporting the loss to local police in Karnal. The investigation, now under CBI purview, will examine the transaction trails, digital footprints and any additional suspects.
Cyber fraud cases have risen across the region, with authorities repeatedly urging citizens to verify online transactions and report suspicious activity promptly. The transfer to the CBI underscores the seriousness with which the judiciary views high‑value cyber offences.
Legal experts note that re‑registration by the CBI allows the agency to file a fresh charge sheet and pursue leads that may have been missed during the initial state‑level probe. The process also aligns with procedural safeguards mandated by the apex court.
The accused remains in custody while the CBI prepares its next steps. No further details about his bail application or the timeline for filing charges have been released.
Source: Hindustan Times
