Vaccine-maker Serum Institute of India (SII) was defrauded of over Rs 1 crore in September 2022 after fraudsters sent messages requesting transfer of funds in the name of the company’s chief executive officer Adar Poonawalla.
Pune Police today said that they have arrested seven suspects in connection with the Serum Institute of India (SII) fraud of over Rs 1.01 crore, news agency ANI reported.
According to the complaint, in September 2022, Satish Deshpande, a director of the Serum Institute of India (SII), received a request to send money to seven different accounts from a person impersonating SII CEO Adar Poonawalla on WhatsApp.
The complaint by the finance manager of the company further states that the remitter demanded that Deshpande immediately transfer the money to specific bank accounts. Deshpande transferred Rs 1,01,01,554 to those accounts online, believing that the message was from Poonawalla, later discovering that the company had been defrauded.
Responding to a complaint filed in this regard, the police conducted an investigation and identified eight accounts into which the money was transferred.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Smartana Patil (Zone II) said, “It is learned that the money was transferred into the accounts of these seven people, who have now been arrested from different parts of the country. However, the main accused are still at large.” Is.” Absconded.”
He further said that they had attached all these accounts as well as 40 other accounts from which the money was transferred.
“We have also frozen Rs 13 lakh in these accounts,” he added.
The Cyber Unit of Pune City Police on Friday arrested three suspects in the case. Police said, “Cyber Unit of Pune City Police has arrested 3 accused involved in the case of cheating Serum Institute of India by posing as CEO Adar Poonawalla. Total 7 accused have been arrested so far. The main accused is absconding.” ” ,
Serum Institute of India is a biotechnology and biopharmaceuticals company based in Pune, India. Among other vaccines, the company manufactures the Covishield vaccine, which is used to protect against coronavirus.
