Cyber fraudsters attempt to extort money from K’taka HC judges, case filed

Bengaluru: Cyber fraudsters allegedly attempted to target two Karnataka High Court judges claiming that objectionable messages were being shared from the SIM card registered in their name and demanded money to resolve the matter.

The judges brought the matter to the notice of the High Court security police officials and directed them to file an FIR seeking a detailed probe.

Two separate cases were registered at Vidhana Soudha police station based on the complaint lodged by High Court Security Inspector G. Shobha and Sub-Inspector A.R. Raghu Naik.

As per the complaint, an unidentified person called the high court judge on March 15 at around 4 pm and claimed that he was from the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT). The caller alleged that the judge’s SIM was being used to send objectionable messages and a case had been registered in this regard with Mumbai police and offered to connect the call to the police. Later a man, posing as a police official spoke rudely to the judge and threatened him. The judge disconnected the call and alerted High Court Security Inspector G. Shobha that fraudsters might be attempting to conspire and extort money by making such calls.

A similar instance was reported by another High Court judge who received a call at 9 am on March 15 from a person claiming to be from the DoPT. In this case too, the caller stated that the SIM registered in the judge’s name was being used to send objectionable messages and a case was registered with Andheri East station in Mumbai. He said he would transfer the call to the police and the matter be resolved with them. He then connected the call to another person, claiming to be a cop who said that the problem would be solved if the judge paid money.

The judge disconnected the call and summoned SI Raghu Naik asking him to file a police complaint in this regard.