E-policing: EOW continues its fraud investigations during COVID-19 outbreak

New Delhi: From filing chargesheets to informing complainants about the status of their cases through phone calls to procuring important documents through email is how the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of Delhi Police have continued their investigation in white-collar crimes and financial frauds during COVID-19 outbreak.

According to a senior officer, in light of the recent guidelines related to COVID-19 and social distancing, the usual movements of

visitors at EOW have become restricted. However, written complaints are being received at the complaints section. "The complaint copy is being received but of course, after proper sanitisation," the officer said.

The official further said that since most of the visitors come to the unit to inquire about the status of their complaints as well as the progress of the investigation, the same is being conveyed to them by respective investigating officers (IOs) through email as well as telephone.

"Documents required from other agencies like banks or other corporate bodies are received through emails on the request of the IOs," the official said.

Joint Commissioner of Police (EOW) OP Mishra told the Millennium Post that they were also now filing chargesheets in cases where investigation had been completed and chargesheets needed to be filed within the statutory period.

In April itself, several fraud cases were registered by EOW. In one of the cases, the complainant alleged that he along with others was duped on the pretext of a job in the Railways. The cheated amount was in between Rs 4-5 crores whereas, in another incident, people claimed that they were duped on the pretext of going abroad.

There were also cases in which banks were cheated, people being duped by NGOs and real estate firms. "We have registered more than eight cases in April after proper inquiry," the Joint CP said, adding that they were also informing complainants about the registration of FIRs in their respective cases.

Another officer said that apart from carrying out fine investigations, the

officers also discharge multifarious duties and the best example is north-east Delhi riots, where officials from EOW were deployed in vulnerable areas to maintain peace. "Officials from EOW are always ready as and when their services are required in the field," he added.