PANCHKULA, Aug 4— A 14-year-old boy from Panchkula was allegedly extorted of ₹14 lakh by individuals he encountered while playing online games, prompting cyber crime police to register a case and begin an investigation.
According to initial reports, the boy developed contact with a group of individuals during online gaming sessions. Over time, the suspects allegedly began threatening and pressuring him, eventually coercing him into transferring large sums of money from a bank account held by a family member.
“The money was siphoned off in multiple transactions,” a police official said, adding that the boy only disclosed the matter to his family after the entire amount had been transferred. Following this, the family approached the police and filed a complaint.
An FIR has been lodged under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, and efforts are underway to identify and trace the accused.
Authorities have also issued a general advisory urging parents to monitor children’s online activities and banking access, especially amid the growing misuse of gaming platforms by cybercriminals.
“Online games are increasingly being used as a tool by fraudsters to exploit minors,” said an officer involved in the probe. “We are working to ensure that the culprits are brought to justice swiftly.”
