Mumbai: The classic WhatsApp display picture scam, where fraudsters impersonate corporate leaders to trick employees into making unauthorized fund transfers, has taken a dangerous leap in sophistication. Moving beyond messaging apps, scammers are now using professional collaboration platforms for deception.In a recent case, scammers created a fraudulent group chat on Microsoft Teams using the names of two directors of an industrial company. They faked a discussion about a contract and manipulated an employee into transferring Rs 2.3 crore of company funds to them. An FIR was registered by the south Cyber Police and investigations are on.The incident occurred on July 31. A senior VP (finance) working with the industrial company found himself added to a group chat on Microsoft Teams. It was titled ‘work group’. Two individuals, with the same names as the company’s directors, were already a part of the group chat and were discussing a contract. As the company typically held meetings over Microsoft Teams, the victim did not suspect anything.During the discussion, one of the ‘directors’ quizzed the senior VP about the company’s bank balance. The senior VP disclosed the figure. Subsequently, the ‘director’ instructed that Rs 2.3 crore be transferred to a rubber firm in West Bengal for business. He provided the rubber firm’s bank details. Accordingly, the senior VP asked his subordinate to make the payment via RTGS and shared a copy over the group chat.Later that day, another employee who was checking daily transactions made through the company’s bank account raised a query about that particular payment. The senior VP was questioned as to whether the directors had spoken to him on the phone about making the payment. He denied. The employee then verified with the directors and found out that they were never a part of any group chat with the senior VP.The company management immediately approached the Cyber Police, who were able to block the money in the beneficiary’s account before it could be withdrawn by the scammers.Cyber Police have cautioned people against making any monetary transfers of company funds without making a direct phone call and verifying the demand. Experts said organisations should build a culture where employees do not hesitate to verify unusual requests involving money, sensitive data or access privileges, irrespective of who appears to be making the request.

Mumbai: The city crime branch has secured one more day of police custody of 32-year-old TISS student Abhirup Ashim Paul alias Ronnie in connection with an alleged unauthorised programme held at the institute’s campus in Oct 2025. Police told the court that they needed his custody to investigate alleged Maoist literature found on his electronic devices, recover deleted digital data and examine his field activities and alleged links with the Progressive Students Forum and other individuals.Paul was arrested by crime branch unit 6 on Saturday after a sessions court rejected his anticipatory bail plea. The case relates to a memorial gathering held at the TISS campus for former Delhi University professor G N Saibaba in Oct 2025. Several students entered the institute premises without prior permission, displayed Saibaba’s photograph, paid tribute to him and held a candle-lighting programme. Police have alleged that slogans such as “Release Umar Khalid” and “Release Sharjeel Imam” were also raised during the event.The case was initially registered at Trombay police station under various provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), along with Sections 37(d), 37(e) and 135 of the Maharashtra Police Act. It was subsequently transferred to the crime branch.While seeking further custody before the 37th Metropolitan Magistrate on Monday, investigating officer, police inspector Sushant Sawant, told the court that material allegedly downloaded on Paul’s electronic devices included literature associated with banned Maoist organisations. Police also claimed that WhatsApp conversations showed that Paul had undertaken field visits to different locations and that some messages had allegedly been deleted.Special public prosecutor Shishir Hire said they needed to recover the deleted data, establish the source and purpose of the material, examine his alleged field activities and identify his contacts and associates. Police also sought to determine whether the Oct programme was part of a wider effort to influence or radicalise students.The police further alleged that Paul was associated with Progressive Students Forum and sought to examine its structure, members and alleged external links. They also said notices had been issued to two TISS professors over allegedly suspicious WhatsApp exchanges with Paul and that his presence may be required during the inquiry.Police said nine mobile phones, seven laptops and one tablet had been seized during the investigation.Defence advocate Vijay Hiramath opposed further custody, arguing that Paul’s mobile phone and computer had already been seized and there was nothing left to recover from him physically. The defence sought judicial custody instead.After hearing both sides, the court granted the crime branch one day’s police custody.

Mumbai: A proposal to lease for 30 years 23,822 square metres of land in the Century Mills’ Lower Parel plot for redevelopment to Peddar Realty Ltd, the highest bidder at Rs 1,351 crore, will come up for final approval before BMC improvement committee on Wednesday, Aug 12.BMC had set a reserve price of Rs 1,348 crore for the plot, and four developers — Peddar Realty, K Raheja Corp, Keystone Realtors and Shapoorji Pallonji Real Estate — had submitted their bids in March.According to the civic body, Peddar Realty had submitted a bid of Rs 1,351 crore, which was 0.22% more than the base price. The plot currently has 23 buildings comprising 476 tenements occupied by eligible mill workers’ families and 10 shops.Families of workers of the mill, which shut in 2006, will be permanently rehabilitated as part of the redevelopment.The plot was originally leased to Century Spinning and Manufacturing Ltd (now Century Textiles & Industries Ltd) for 28 years from April 1, 1927, to house employees from the poorer class. The lease deed expired in 1955. According to the civic body’s terms, the lease rent for the first 30 years will be Re 1 per square metre per annum for open land and Re 1 per square metre per annum for buildings under construction (BUA). The lease rent for the next 30 years, which is renewable, will be as per the prevailing policy at the time.The concerned plot will be leased on an ‘as is where is’ basis, and the bidder will have to rehabilitate all eligible residents of the said plot at its own cost. They will be provided flats with a minimum carpet area of 405 square feet. The municipal commissioner reserves the right to take back possession of the concerned land after the expiry of the lease period. If the lease is not renewed further, the lessee shall have to return peaceful possession of the land as well as the developed portion.Meanwhile, Shiv Sena’s (UBT) Aaditya Thackeray had earlier written to the municipal commissioner, stating that BMC should not proceed with the redevelopment proposal without determining the eligibility of local residents and fulfilling their demands.

Mumbai: A proposal to lease for 30 years 23,822 square metres of land in that the Century Mills’ Lower Parel plot for redevelopment to Peddar Realty Ltd, the highest bidder at Rs 1,351 crore, will come up for final approval before the BMC Improvement Committee on Wednesday, Aug 12.The BMC had set a reserve price of Rs 1,348 crore for the plot, and four developers–Peddar Realty, K Raheja Corp, Keystone Realtors and Shapoorji Pallonji Real Estate — had submitted their bids in March.After the civic body opened the C packet in May this year, it found that Peddar Realty had submitted a bid of Rs 1,351 crore, which was 0.22% more than the base price. The plot currently has 23 buildings comprising 476 tenements occupied by eligible mill workers’ families and 10 shops. The six-acre plot houses 23 buildings, 476 rooms occupied by mill-worker families and 10 shops.Families of workers of the mill, which shut in 2006, will be permanently rehabilitated as part of the redevelopment. While flats will be allotted to mill-worker families, the remaining apartments will be sold in the open market.The plot was originally leased to Century Spinning and Manufacturing Ltd (now Century Textiles & Industries Ltd) for 28 years from April 1, 1927, to house employees from the poorer class. The lease deed expired in 1955. According to the civic body’s terms, the lease rent for the first 30 years will be Rs 1 per square metre per annum for open land and Rs 1 per square metre per annum for buildings under construction (BUA). The lease rent for the next 30 years, which is renewable, will be as per the prevailing policy at the time.The concerned plot will be leased on an ‘as is where is’ basis, and the bidder will have to rehabilitate all eligible residents of the said plot at his own cost. They will be provided flats with a minimum carpet area of 405 square feet. The municipal commissioner reserves the right to take back possession of the concerned land after the expiry of the lease period. If the lease is not renewed further, the lessee shall have to return peaceful possession of the land as well as the developed portion.Meanwhile, Shiv Sena’s (UBT) Aaditya Thackeray had earlier written to the municipal commissioner, stating that the BMC should not proceed with the redevelopment proposal without determining the eligibility of local residents and fulfilling their demands.