In a major crackdown on cyber crime, the Bhopal Cyber Crime Branch has taken legal action against two members of a gang operating from Alwar, Rajasthan, who created a fake Facebook profile using the name and photograph of Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime Branch), Bhopal. The operation was conducted under the directives of Police Commissioner Harinarayanachari Mishra, Additional Police Commissioner Pankaj Srivastava, and Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime) Shraddha Tiwari.

 

The case came to light when a complaint was lodged, alleging that unknown individuals had created a fraudulent Facebook profile impersonating the Additional DCP to deceive and defraud people. Following the complaint, the Cyber Crime Branch registered a case under Section 66(C) of the IT Act and initiated an investigation.

The modus operandi revealed a sophisticated organised crime network.

 

The accused created fake Facebook profiles of senior police officials to mislead and scam unsuspecting victims. Through technical analysis, the Cyber Crime Branch traced the fake profile to Alwar, Rajasthan. A raid in the Malakheda police station area led to the apprehension of a juvenile and an adult, Birbal Prajapat,  a 40-year-old resident of Laxmangarh, Alwar, who runs a mobile repair shop and operates as a Point of Sale (POS) agent. During interrogation, the juvenile admitted to being lured by Prajapat into activating a SIM card for Rs 1,500, which was later sold to another cyber criminal for Rs 3,000. This SIM card was used to operate the fake Facebook profile. Based on the evidence, additional charges under sections 61(2) and 204 of the BNS were added to the case. Both the juvenile and Prajapat were issued legal notices to appear in the court.