KOCHI: Music director Jerry Amaldev's heart is still pounding even though he escaped from a major fraud. So much fear was presented to him by the north Indian cyber fraud gang posing as CBI officials. Jerry Amaldev was threatened with a fake virtual arrest for allegedly dealing in black money. Jerry, who was ready to hand over the money, was rescued by the bank manager and the SI on time.

Jerry about the incident:

"I got a phone call via WhatsApp with a picture of 'Satyameva Jayate' written on it. He introduced himself as Inspector Rinoy Choudhary of the CBI's Mumbai unit. He told me that he had found my account during the investigation of the Jet Airways case in which Naresh Goyal was arrested and that Goyal had made a transaction of Rs 2.5 crore into that. I said no, but they remained firm. They asked me where I had transferred Rs 2.5 crore.

When I told them I had nothing to do with Goyal, they changed their tactics. They asked me not to speak out as it was a case related to national security. They threatened to move towards virtual arrest if I disclosed the issue. Eventually, they promised to save me from the case if I paid Rs 2.7 lakh. I went to the bank to hand over the money after that.

Many congratulated Federal Bank Pachalam branch manager S Sajinamol and Ernakulam Central SI Anoop Chacko for saving Jerry Amaldev from the fraud. Sajinamol said that the top officials of the bank called and congratulated her. Kerala Kaumudi had reported yesterday about the bank manager foiling the cyber fraud attempt.

"Had the bank manager and the SI not intervened, I would have handed over the money. Thanks to both of them."

- Jerry Amaldev