Tihar Jail, one of India’s largest and most notorious prisons, has now emerged as the epicenter of a new and shocking crime. Recent revelations have proven that a massive online stock scam, involving the swindling of crores of rupees, is being orchestrated from within the jail premises.
Over the past few months, the Chandigarh Cyber Crime Police uncovered a case in which a prisoner in Tihar Jail, Chander Mohan Singh, executed an online stock scam worth 3.66 crore rupees from inside the jail. The complainant in this case, Surinder Kumar Thakur, revealed that he was lured through a WhatsApp group named ‘P15 Stock Market Exchange Club,’ where he was enticed with promises of high returns on stock investments. Members of this group posed as professional analysts from SMC Global Securities Limited, a reputed company. However, it was entirely a deception.
According to Indian express, Thakur was persuaded to invest through a fake app called SMCLE. The app was designed so cleverly that it appeared to be a legitimate trading platform. Initially, group members gained Thakur’s trust by providing accurate stock predictions. Subsequently, he was asked to open an “institutional account,” which required investing large sums of money. Between February 2024 and March 2024, Thakur transferred 3.66 crore rupees to various bank accounts, believing he was investing in “upper circuit” stocks.
Investigations revealed that the mastermind of this scam was Chander Mohan Singh, who was in judicial custody in Tihar Jail Number 3. Shockingly, he carried out the entire operation from inside the jail. The police arrested him on a production warrant with the court’s permission.
Questions Raised on Jail Administration
Tihar Jail has long been known for its stringent security measures, but this incident has cast doubts on those claims. How was it possible to orchestrate a scam of such magnitude from within the jail? Was the jail administration unaware of it, or was there some internal collusion? These questions are now under scrutiny.
In recent years, several incidents of illegal activities have surfaced in Tihar Jail. Prohibited items such as drugs, weapons, and mobile phones have been found inside the premises. Recently, the jail administration established an intelligence cell to monitor such activities. Yet, the exposure of a scam like this indicates that significant loopholes still remain.
The Growing Threat of Cybercrime
This case is not limited to Tihar Jail alone; it serves as an example of the rising cybercrimes across the country. Online stock scams have surged in recent years, particularly due to the misuse of social media and messaging apps. Fake apps, misleading WhatsApp groups, and false promises of investments are easily trapping ordinary people. Experts say that to curb such crimes, not only is strict legal action necessary, but public awareness is equally crucial.
The Chandigarh Police are conducting an in-depth investigation into this case and are searching for other potential suspects. There is also a possibility that more individuals may be involved in this scam, with a network extending beyond the jail.
What is going on, God knows ?? How is it possible in BJP’s regime. A serious matter to be tactfully handled, & punish the culpricts.