Received money from woman through PhonePe, account frozen by the Mumbai police soon after; shop owner with complaint

ALAPPUZHA: The bank account of a shop owner was allegedly frozen by the police after he received money from a customer through PhonePe. It was the Mumbai police that froze the bank account of Alappuzha Thalavady native PS Sindhu. Sindhu's account was frozen after she received money from a woman hailing from Thalavady through PhonePe.

On April 24, the woman paid Rs 1000 to Sindhu through PhonePe after buying some items from her shop. Sindhu has a bank account in the Thalavady branch of a private bank. On May 2, Sindhu received the first notice from the bank. The notice stated that she cannot withdraw Rs 1000 which was received through PhonePe. On May 6, she received another notice from the bank. When Sindhu approached the bank along with the woman who paid her the money, she was informed that the bank account of the woman was frozen by the police.

On May 22, Sindhu received yet another notice from the bank informing her that her account was also completely frozen. The bank authorities said that the account was frozen as per the instruction of the Mumbai police.

The husband of the woman who paid money to Sindhu through PhonePe works abroad. It was the money sent by the woman's husband that was sent to Sindhu's account through PhonePe. The woman had also paid money to an electric shop in Edathua through PhonePe. According to sources, the account of this shopkeeper was also frozen by the bank authorities.

Sindhu has lodged a complaint with the Edathua police about her account being frozen. Since this is the first time that the Edathua police are handling such a case, Sindhu has been directed to file a complaint with the district police chief.