A 66-year-old medical professional became a victim of sextortion by unknown cyber fraudsters. In response, the cyber police of the South Regional Division have filed a case under IT sections against a woman and a fake police officer for extortion and fraud. The accused had extorted Rs. 29 lakh from the complainant by threatening to release an obscene video of him on social media.
The complainant, who lives in the Cuffe Parade area and owns a medical store on Mohammad Ali Road, received a Facebook friend request from a woman named Pooja Sharma on June 10. He accepted the request without any verification, and they began chatting. After two days, they exchanged mobile numbers and continued their conversation over the phone. Later, Pooja video-called him, and to his shock, she appeared naked on the call, urging him to undress. Following her actions, he also removed his clothes. She then abruptly ended the call.
Two days later, Pooja called him, demanding Rs. 50,000, and threatened to release the obscene video if he failed to pay. Terrified of social disgrace, he complied with her demand.
On June 29, he received a call from a man named Pramod Rathod, who claimed to be a Deputy Commissioner of Police from Delhi. Rathod informed him that Pooja had filed a complaint against him, warning him of potential legal action and arrest. To avoid this, Rathod demanded money, assuring the complainant that the case would not be registered if he paid. The following day, Rathod called again, alleging that Pooja had committed suicide and held the complainant responsible. Rathod then demanded more money to help cover up the incident and financially assist Pooja's family members to settle the matter.
Fearing public shame and damage to his reputation, the complainant transferred Rs. 29.28 lakh to the bank account provided by Rathod. Despite this, Rathod continued to demand money. When the complainant shared this ordeal with his lawyer, he was advised to report the matter to the police. Following this advice, he filed a complaint with the cyber helpline (1930) and the South Regional Cyber Police.
Along with the complaint, the victim submitted chat details with Pooja Sharma and records of the bank transactions. Based on his complaint, the police registered a case under relevant sections of the Bhartiya Nyay Sanhita, including sections 308 (6), 318 (4), 319 (2), and 61 (2), as well as sections 66(C) and 66(D) of the IT Act. Senior Police Inspector Nand Kumar Gopale is leading the investigation.
This case serves as a reminder to stay cautious while interacting with unknown individuals on social media, as cyber scams are increasingly targeting innocent people in society.