Man posts fake ads on sale of cylinders, held

NEW DELHI: The Delhi Police on Friday arrested a 24-yearold man who allegedly posted fake advertisements on sale of oxygen cylinders for ₹25,000 in Delhi NCR on social media and used to go missing after taking advance payment for the cylinders from prospective buyers.

The man has been identified as Pawan Kumar, a resident of Bharatpur in Rajasthan, who works at a grocery shop.

Deputy commissioner of police (New Delhi) Eish Singhal said complainant, one Ayesha Falaq, reported that she saw an advertisement on a Whatsapp group that oxygen cylinders are available for ₹25,000 per cylinder at a store purportedly called Jain Oxygen Agency in Faridabad.

“Since she needed an oxygen cylinder for someone she knew who was in need of it, she called the given number and made an advance payment of ₹5,000. Neither did she receive the oxygen cylinder nor did she get back the money. She then lodged a complaint, based on which a cheating case was registered,” Singhal said.

During investigations, technical surveillance helped the police procure bank statement and bank account details and it was found that Kumar obtained a SIM card by submitting a fake identity document.

“Analysis of electronic data revealed that a man named Pawan is using the phone. After thorough investigation and analysis of electronic data, our team raided several parts of Bharatpur district in Rajasthan and arrested Kumar,” said the DCP.

On further interrogation, Kumar confessed he has been cheating people with the help of his accomplice Salman, a resident of a nearby village.

“He said while Salman used to procure fake IDS, obtain SIM cards using them and open bank accounts, he used to trap callers and take payments. The mobile phone and SIM card used in the crime are yet to be recovered. Further investigation is on to arrest his accomplice,” said the officer.