New Delhi:
A Union Health Ministry senior official was apparently cheated of Rs 27 lakhs on the pretext of investing his money in the currency market, Delhi police officials reported on Wednesday.

Delhi police state that the victim has claimed to have been approached by an individual in July 2023, who induced the ministry official to remit Rs 27 lakh for the purpose of investing and doubling the amount within one year in the currency market.

“Victim claimed that he told him that he is investing & trading the amount in the currency market and he would repay double the amount of principal to the complainant in a period of one year. Therefore, on this inducement and lure, he agreed to provide him with an amount of twenty seven lakhs,” Delhi police stated.

A case has been filed under sections 308/318(4)/319/340 at South district’s Cyber police station on August 11.

Earlier on August 17, in a big raid on cyber-extortion, a combined team of PS DBG Road and PS Cyber, Central District, Delhi Police arrested three men, including a graduate of the London School of Economics, on charges of attempting to extort money through global WhatsApp calls and cryptocurrency payments.

The accused, who were said to have impersonated members of a feared gangster to intimidate, were tracked down to Thailand before being arrested on their return to India, officials stated.