Digital arrest: Ex-BARC official loses Rs 15 lakh in Tirunelveli

TIRUNELVELI: Cyber crime police in Tirunelveli city have recently registered a case after a 77-year-old retired official of Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) was cheated of Rs 15 lakh by cyber criminals who threatened him with legal action over alleged usage of his bank account for money laundering.

According to sources, the victim, Ranganathan, received a call on December 27, 2025, from unknown persons claiming that his mobile number had been used for illegal financial transactions. The caller, allegedly posing as Enforcement Directorate officials, pressurised him and warned him of arrest if he failed to co-operate.