CHANDIGARH, January 9: MSP Scam : The Punjab Police’s State Cyber crime Division has successfully uncovered a Minimum Support Price (MSP payment fraud. This action aligns with the ongoing crackdown on cyber crime. Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav directed this initiative. They arrested four individuals who were manipulating the Anaaj Kharid Portal. Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) Cybercrime Division V Neeraja stated here on Thursday. She mentioned that these individuals diverted crop payments from farmers. They redirected these payments to their own bank accounts.
Those arrested have been identified as Manish, Jasvir Singh, Angrej Singh and Balwinder Singh. Police teams have also recovered digital devices and routers used by them to commit the fraud.
ADGP Exposes Fraudulent Crop Payment MSP Scam
ADGP V Neeraja said that the accused employed an innovative modus operandi. They diverted the payment intended for the crops of the farmers to their own accounts. They did this fraudulently by replacing the mobile numbers of the farmers with their own. Thereafter, they used the same numbers to update the bank account information of the farmers.
To avoid detection, the accused would restore the original details immediately after the payment was processed. She added that a statewide operation is being conducted to nab the other accused persons involved in the scam.
A complaint came from the Food and Civil Supplies Department, Punjab. It revealed that some farmers had not received the payment for selling their crops during the 2024 paddy season. Subsequently, further verification uncovered that various persons had received the payment meant for these farmers in their bank accounts.
In response, the ADGP stated that IP records and other relevant data were thoroughly scrutinised during the preliminary enquiry. This detailed examination uncovered vital information about the bank accounts involved. It also revealed the unauthorized access of the Anaaj Kharid Portal. The investigation highlighted the diversion of the crop payment into different accounts.
“Fake IDs Used to Alter Farmer Bank Records on Anaaj Kharid Portal”
During the investigation, authorities discovered that, in addition, someone had purchased a mobile number and device in District SAS Nagar.They used a fake identity to make this purchase. The gang used these to obtain OTPs and alter the bank accounts of farmers on the Anaaj Kharid Portal. They operated from remote areas of Sri Muktsar Sahib. and installed an internet connection there for unauthorized access to the Portal. They also used it for modifying the farmers’ bank records.
ADGP V Neeraja stated that three teams from the Cybercrime Division were led by Insp Jujhar Singh. Insp Deepak Bhatia led another team. SI Ranjit led the third team. They used multiple OSINT techniques to determine the whereabouts of the accused. This effort led to the arrest of four people from areas of District Moga and District Sri Muktsar Sahib.
“Further Probing Accused, Raids Ongoing in Scam Case”
Further questioning of the arrested accused is underway to identify more persons involved, she said. In addition, she did not rule out the possibility of connivance by Mandi Board or Food Supply Department officials. It is likely that commission agents shared sensitive information with the masterminds of the scam, including potential technical glitches in the Anaaj Kharid portal. Furthermore, she added that authorities are actively conducting raids to apprehend the remaining accused in the case.
Case Registered Under BNS and IT Act at Punjab Cyber Crime Police Station
In this regard, authorities have registered a case FIR. It is under sections 318(4), 336(2), and 336(3) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). It also covers sections 338, 340(2), and 61(2) of the BNS. Authorities have included sections 66C and 66D of the IT Act. They registered the case at Police Station State Cyber Crime, Punjab.
