Berhampur : Despite repeated advisory by police,the highly qualified persons falls prey to the cyber criminals and the latest victim is Prof Geetanjali dash,vice chancellor of Berhampur university.The cyber criminals used their old trick of digital arrest by posing ED officer and looted Rs 14 lakhs from Dash,who lodged a complaint.Basing on her complaint,Cyber Police registered a case and started probe.Prof Dash stated,an unknown caller identified himself as an Enforcement Directorate officer and put her under ‘digital arrest’ for past four days.The caller issued threatening to Dash.He told the Vice Chancellor that her Aadhaar number has been found linked with a financial irregularities case, which is being monitored by the Supreme Court.During the past four days, the fraudster called up her on different occasions and convinced her to pay ?14 lakh.She paid the amount through bank cheque.However,suspicion came to her mind,of being cheated,when the fraudster not responded her call. ,even the caller’s mobile phone was found to be switched off.Berhampur SP,Dr Saravana Vivek M informed a case has been registered at the Cyber Police Station on the basis of Dash’s complaint filed yesterday.The SP said,on 24.02.2025 around 9 PM, Smt. Geetanjali Dash, Vice-Chancellor, Berhmpur University reported at Cyber PS , Berhampur to the effect that she received a phone call from an unknown number on 12.2.2025 to her phone. The unknown person on the other end which identified himself as a ED Officer and accused her to have involved in a ED case and an account has been opened in her name at Canara Bank and crores of illegal money has been deposited in the said account in her name and kept her digitally arrest during evening hours.The accused persons demanded an amount of Rs..14 lakhs from her for “release” which she obliged and sent the money through a bank cheque to the account of the fraudster.In this connection Berhampur CC & EO PS Case No.15 Dt.24.2.2025 U/S 318(4)/319(2)/336(2)/336(3)/340(2)/308(2)/351(2) BNS/66(C )/66(D) I.T.Act has been registered and investigation is going on.However,why she lodged the complaint after longdays of cheating.Moreover,why she feared and remained in digital custody in the name of ED are the unanswered questions.
