Panchkula: 79-year-old man duped of Rs 3.5 lakh

PANCHKULA: A 79-year-old resident of Sector 10 was allegedly duped of Rs 3.50 lakh after he got a phone call from a man claiming to be calling from Canada needing some financial help.
Kailash Gandhi said as he was hard of hearing, he gave the phone to his tenant Kavita, who resides on the first floor of his house. Kavita told Kailash that someone from Toronto, Canada, was on the phone. Kailash presumed it to be his nephew residing abroad.
The caller allegedly said he was transferring Rs 15 lakh in bank account of Gandhi, asking for its details. Later, he again called up and demanded Rs 3.50 lakh, promising to return the amount along with Rs 15 lakh deposit. Worried his nephew was in some trouble, Gandhi said he took help of his neighbours and deposited Rs 1.40 lakh and Rs 2.10 lakh in the bank account given by the caller.
When Gandhi did not get any response after dialing the number, he called his brother Surinder Gandhi, father of his nephew, to confirm the payment. He was shocked to learn his nephew had never demanded any money from him. Police registered a case under sections 406 (punishment for criminal breach of trust) and 420 (cheating) of the IPC at the Sector 5 police station.