In a major breakthrough regarding the infamous ATM cloning cases that has rocked Dehradun, the Special Task Force, Uttarakhand and the Dehradun district civil police have arrested a woman identified as Anil Kumari, resident of Sonipat in Haryana from Rohtak on the charge of her alleged involvement in such cases. However, two other suspects identified as Ranbeer and Jagmohan, both natives of Jhajhar, Haryana are still on the run. Notably, around 96 cases of ATM cloning were reported in various police stations based in Dehradun between July 14 and July 20.
A police officer investigating the case said that the team has arrested Anil Kumari on Thursday and recovered Rs 2.32 lakh in cash, four clone cards, some cheque books, pass books and documents of a Haryana plate number car aside from Rambeer’s shirt and cap supposedly used during the crimes from her residence.
Earlier, to crack the case, joint teams from STF and district civil police had been formed with SSP STF Riddhim Aggarwal and SSP Dehradun Nivedita Kukreti monitoring the progress of the probe.
In course of investigation, three names of Ranbeer, Jagmohan and Anil Kumari had come up. The team members had raided various places in Jhajhar, Sonipath and Rohtak over the past few days. Finally, the woman was arrested on Thursday.
Investigation further revealed that the accused used to target ATM machines which were found unguarded. They used to break the CCTV cameras installed in such ATMs. It was followed by the installation of the cloning devises. To make the people to throng such manipulated ATMs, they used to make others in their vicinity dysfunctional through using various methods. Afterwards, the cloning devises were uninstalled and they withdrew money through clone cards.
Investigation further revealed that they had fraudulently withdrawn money from ATMs located in Delhi, Rajasthan and Haryana in the past and managed to purchase high-priced lands and luxurious cars from the ill-gotten money.
While being grilled, Anil Kumari is said to have informed police that she had married one Dhirendra, native of Delhi who was later murdered by her family members. After she had registered a complaint a case under section 302 of IPC against her family members at Narela police station she had been sent to Nari Niketan, Delhi on security reasons while her family members had been sent to jail. After she had come out of the Nari Niketan she had met Ranbeer. This was followed by their live- in relation with the couple living both in Rohtak and Delhi.
Investigation further revealed that she was assisting the gang members in the ATM cloning cases. She has admitted to have provided a SIM collected in her name to the gang members. Police said that the team is now going all-out to arrest the absconding culprits.