Ms. Pallavi Akurathi, a 2009-batch Karnataka cadre IAS officer currently serving as the Additional Mission Director of the Sakala Mission, has filed a cybercrime complaint after being allegedly cheated by a YouTube vendor during an online sari purchase.
The complaint was lodged with the East Division Cybercrime Police, following which an FIR was registered on Thursday. The accused has been charged under the Information Technology Act, 2000 and Section 318(4) of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita, 2023, which pertains to cheating and dishonestly inducing the delivery of property.
In her complaint, Ms. Akurathi stated that she attempted to buy a Madurai Sungudi cotton sari through a vendor named Poornima Collection, which showcased the sari on YouTube. After selecting the sari, she sent a screenshot via WhatsApp to the vendor and paid Rs. 850, including shipping charges, on March 10. Despite receiving payment and giving assurances of dispatch, the vendor failed to deliver the product and has since become unresponsive to calls and messages.
Ms. Akurathi emphasized that while the amount involved may seem minor, the incident could be part of a larger pattern of fraud targeting multiple unsuspecting customers, thereby resulting in mass cheating.
The police have initiated an investigation and are in the process of tracing the accused by tracking the money trail through the bank details.
Also Read: Senior IAS Officer Smita Sabharwal Responds to Gachibowli Police Notice in Land Dispute Case
