One of my clients recently had a case which I am explaining below and if you are stuck in such similar situation, here is what to do.
Note: Due to attorney-client privilege, I cannot disclose complete case details or identify the actual parties involved. However, I am sharing the essential facts and legal approach so that if you find yourself in a similar situation, you can understand the available solutions and legal remedies.
TL;DR: A caller claiming to be a police sub-inspector who sends a notice through a cloud-storage link and demands a personal meeting without explaining the reason is almost certainly running a scam. Real police officers don’t serve summons via JioCloud or WhatsApp. You should not panic, do not meet him, and report the matter immediately at the nearest police station or cyber cell. Document everything and consult a lawyer experienced in cyber frauds.
A young professional from Indore, let’s call him Anil Sharma, got a phone call on 15 May 2025. The caller asked for someone named Vivek Tiwari. Anil told him it was a wrong number and hung up.
The man called right back. This time his tone was clipped, official. He identified himself as Sub-Inspector Ranveer Chauhan of the local police. He demanded Anil’s full name. Anil, uneasy about sharing personal details with a stranger, refused. The caller then sent a link to a file stored on JioCloud, claiming it was an official police notice.
Anil was smart. He didn’t open the link. Instead he called the Cyber Crime Helpline (1930) and reported the number.
The next morning, 16 May 2025, a WhatsApp message landed on his father Rajendra Sharma’s phone. The same man accused Anil of rude behaviour and ordered him to call back. When Anil rang, SI Chauhan insisted that the JioCloud notice was genuine and warned him to meet in person within three days — or face an FIR. He refused to say what the matter was about. Later that evening, a different man named Mukesh Joshi phoned. He claimed he used to speak to Vivek Tiwari on Anil’s number and said, almost casually, “You’ll have to go meet him now.”
At this point, the family was frightened. They first tried reasoning on their own, going through a local contact who knew a constable, but got nowhere. That’s when Anil approached the office of Advocate Sudhir Rao. With deep experience in cyber impersonation and extortion schemes, Advocate Sudhir Rao and his team immediately recognised the pattern and mapped out a precise legal strategy. The matter was resolved quickly, without the client ever having to face the fraudster in person.
Key Facts of the Case
- The client received an unsolicited call from someone claiming to be a police sub-inspector.
- The caller demanded his identity and, upon refusal, sent a purported police notice via a JioCloud link — genuine law enforcement agencies do not serve notices this way.
- The same number contacted the client’s father using WhatsApp, threatening criminal proceedings if a meeting didn’t happen.
- A third individual later corroborated the scam by implying the client must obey the fake officer.
- The client acted prudently: he did not open the suspicious link and immediately reported the number to the national cyber helpline.
- Earlier informal attempts through non-specialist channels failed; proper legal intervention handled the situation decisively.
The Direct Legal Answer
Is this a scam?
Yes. A police officer who serves a notice through a file-sharing link and insists on a clandestine personal meeting without disclosing the grounds is almost certainly a fraudster. Under Indian law, any summons or notice must be issued in writing, signed, and delivered through legally prescribed methods — not a cloud drive.
Could it be a genuine police matter?
Possible but highly improbable given the red flags. Real police would either call you to the station or visit your residence. They do not badger you with repeated phone calls and demand a meeting without explaining the reason. The facts here scream impersonation and attempted extortion.
What should I do immediately?
Do not panic, do not meet the person, and do not engage further. Save all call logs, screenshots, and the cloud link. Report the incident at the nearest police station and also to the cyber crime cell. An experienced lawyer can draft a complaint that triggers a proper investigation under the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023.
Advice in Such Cases
Consult with Lawyer: The very basic and important step to start is talk to Lawyer / advocate. You should not hesitate in paying his consultation fee i.e. might be in range of Rs. 10,000 to 50,000 depends case to case. He is helping you in this situation to come out. He is expert in the domain and can help you explain the procedure which you might have never explored. A good lawyer can get the issues resolved much faster than you think.
Gather every shred of digital evidence before it vanishes. Screenshots, call recordings (if legal in your state, with due caution), and message logs. Preserve them in multiple backups. Then, immediately approach the police with a written complaint, not just a verbal report. This locks in your version and creates accountability.
Matters involving impersonation of public servants and threats over electronic channels demand an advocate who regularly handles cyber frauds. A general practitioner may miss subtle evidentiary requirements — such as the need for a proper chain of custody for digital evidence or specific complaints under the Information Technology Act, 2000, alongside BNS provisions. Domain-specific experience really makes a difference here.
Applicable Sections of Law
- Section 319 BNS — Cheating: impersonation to induce delivery of property or consent to any act can attract this.
- Section 308 BNS — Extortion: threats to cause injury, reputation, or criminal charges to force someone to meet or pay constitute extortion.
- Section 204 BNS — Impersonating a public servant: pretending to be a police officer is a distinct offence.
- Section 351 BNS — Criminal intimidation: the threatening phone calls squarely fit here.
Note that certain aspects may also attract provisions of the IT Act, 2000, for digital delivery of threats through a cloud link.
Punishment and Penalties
Under Section 319 BNS, the maximum punishment is imprisonment up to three years and a fine. Section 308 BNS carries imprisonment up to three years or fine, or both. Impersonating a public servant under Section 204 can lead to imprisonment up to two years and a fine. Criminal intimidation under Section 351 is punishable with imprisonment up to two years, fine, or both. Most of these offences are non-cognizable and bailable, but when the elements of extortion or cheating involve digital evidence, a police officer can seek permission from a Magistrate to investigate and make arrests where necessary.
Jurisdiction — Where to File the Case
The complaint can be filed at the nearest police station, which is duty-bound to record a Zero FIR and transfer it to the appropriate jurisdictional police station. Since the offence involves electronic communication, the cyber crime police station in your city also has jurisdiction. If the police refuse to act, you can approach the jurisdictional Magistrate directly under Section 175(3) BNSS. For egregious inaction, a writ petition before the High Court remains an option. Filing in the right forum at the earliest prevents the fraudster from slipping away.
What if Police Refuse to File FIR?
If the station house officer refuses to register an FIR despite your written complaint, do not give up. The law provides multiple remedies.
- Send a written complaint to the Superintendent of Police (SP) or Commissioner of Police under Section 173(4) BNSS. They can direct investigation or register the FIR themselves.
- File a private complaint before the Magistrate under Section 175(3) BNSS, who can order the police to investigate or take cognizance and proceed with trial.
- As a final resort, move the High Court under its writ jurisdiction or under Section 528 BNSS for appropriate directions.
Rights of the Accused
Even if the tables turn and you are wrongly named as an accused, you have strong constitutional and statutory shields.
- Right to remain silent and against self-incrimination under Article 20(3) of the Constitution.
- Right to legal representation and to be defended by a lawyer of your choice under Article 22(1).
- Right to be produced before a Magistrate within 24 hours of arrest, excluding travel time.
- Right to a copy of the FIR and to know the grounds of arrest.
- Right to reasonable bail in bailable offences and to apply for bail in non-bailable ones.
Bail Provisions
The offences likely involved — cheating, impersonation, criminal intimidation — are generally bailable as they carry a maximum punishment of less than three years in most instances. This means bail is a matter of right when the accused appears before the police or the court. For extortion, if the threat is serious, the police may seek to classify it as a non-bailable one depending on the context. Even then, an anticipatory bail application under Section 482 BNSS can be filed before the Sessions Court or High Court to secure protection against arrest. Regular bail can be sought under Section 480 or 483 BNSS.
Quashing of FIR / Case
If an FIR is registered against an innocent person misidentified by the fraudster, a quashing petition under Section 528 BNSS before the High Court is a powerful remedy. Grounds include no prima facie offence, abuse of process of law, or the fact that the entire complaint is based on a fraudulent setup. Quashing is viable when the documents and call records clearly demonstrate the caller’s false identity. Advocate Sudhir Rao’s office has handled exactly such situations where a swift quashing petition prevented prolonged harassment.
If You Are the Victim
- Never meet the person alone. Always involve law enforcement or your lawyer.
- Do not delete any call logs, messages, or the link — these are your primary evidence.
- Immediately report the number to the cyber crime helpline (1930) and file a complaint at the local police station.
- Consider sending a legal notice through your advocate to the number, demanding proof of identity — this often deters the fraudster.
- Keep your family informed but advise them not to engage or pay any money.
Documents You Must Keep Ready
- Aadhaar card or other government-issued ID proof.
- Screenshots of all calls, WhatsApp messages, and the cloud link received.
- Call detail records from your telecom provider for the relevant dates.
- A written complaint draft narrating the sequence of events with exact timestamps.
- Any recording of the calls (subject to local legal permissibility).
- Details of the cyber helpline report reference number, if any.
- Photos of the link and any message previews that are visible without opening the file.
What Evidence Is Required?
- Call logs and SMS/WhatsApp records — primary evidence of the threat and impersonation.
- Metadata of the cloud link, including the file name and any email ID associated with it.
- Recorded conversation (where legally obtained) showing the demand for a meeting under threat.
- Identity proof of the victim to establish standing in the complaint.
- Cyber helpline complaint acknowledgment as corroborative evidence.
- Testimony of family members who witnessed the calls and messages.
- Any evidence of similar frauds reported against the same number — easily sourced during investigation.
How the Police Behave in Such Cases
Real police officers follow a defined protocol. They issue a written notice under Section 35 BNSS and serve it physically or through registered post. They never ask you to meet at a location of their convenience without stating the case reference. In cyber fraud cases, police stations may initially be hesitant to register an FIR because of unclear jurisdiction or the apparent triviality of a wrong-number call. But once a detailed written complaint is given citing the BNS sections, the machinery typically moves. A lawyer who knows how to draft the complaint and press for a Zero FIR can cut through inertia quickly.
Timeline of Legal Process
- Day 1–3: File complaint; police may verify facts and register FIR.
- Week 1–4: Investigation — collection of call records, IP logs, suspect identification.
- 4–8 weeks: If evidence is strong, police may arrest the impersonator or file a charge-sheet directly for non-cognizable offences after Magistrate’s order.
- 8–12 weeks: Cognizance by Magistrate and issuance of process to the accused.
- 3–6 months: Trial begins, but in practice, a well-documented case pressures the accused to plead or relent much earlier.
How Long Will the Investigation Take?
In a straightforward impersonation scam with digital evidence, the police can complete the core investigation — tracing the number, identifying the suspect, and gathering witness statements — within 30 to 45 days. If the offender is located and the evidence is solid, the charge-sheet can be filed well within the 60- to 90-day window under BNSS.
Understanding the Costs
The total cost of a matter like this varies significantly from one case to the next — it depends on the complexity of the dispute, the forum involved, the number of hearings, and the specific facts of your situation. There is no single fixed figure that applies to everyone.
A professional advocate can give you an accurate estimate only after reviewing all your facts and documents in a consultation.
Can the Matter Be Settled Out of Court?
Settlement in criminal matters depends on whether the offence is compoundable. Offences like cheating and criminal intimidation under BNS are compoundable with the permission of the court, while extortion may be non-compoundable. However, before an FIR is registered, a strongly worded legal notice often resolves the issue — the impersonator backs off knowing the victim has legal backing. In cases where the fraudster is identified, mediation or a compromise can be recorded, but it is generally not advisable to settle privately with a person who has already attempted extortion. Let the law take its course.
Common Mistakes People Make
- Engaging with the caller and sharing personal details out of fear.
- Deleting call logs and messages in a panic, destroying crucial evidence.
- Failing to file a timely police complaint, hoping the problem will vanish on its own.
- Approaching a general practitioner instead of an advocate who regularly handles cyber and impersonation offences — this delays a precise, evidence-backed response.
- Paying money or complying with demands to buy peace, which only invites further extortion.
- Discussing the matter on social media or with unrelated parties, which can compromise investigations.
Domain-specific experience matters because a lawyer conversant with these scams knows exactly which BNSS provisions to invoke for immediate police action and how to preserve digital evidence in a legally admissible format. A generalist might miss that window of opportunity.
FAQs People Normally Have
Can the police really send a notice through a cloud link?
No. Official police notices are never served through JioCloud, Google Drive, or any unsecured digital link. They are either hand-delivered with a signed receipt or sent through registered post.
What if the caller said his friend is a constable and this is genuine?
That’s a classic pressure tactic. Ask for the constable’s full name, police station, and official phone number. A real officer won’t hesitate to provide verifiable details.
I opened the link. Can they harm my phone?
Possibly. Malicious links can install malware. Run a security scan and change passwords immediately. Report this as part of your complaint.
Will the police laugh at me if I go to them with this?
No responsible police officer would dismiss a complaint involving impersonation of a public servant and intimidation. If the first station is unhelpful, approach the cyber cell or the SP’s office.
Should I block the number?
Not immediately. Blocking destroys the trail. Let the number remain active, collect evidence, and only after the complaint is filed and evidence secured, block it.
This article is general legal information, not legal advice. Consult a qualified advocate about your specific situation.
Advocate Sudhir Rao, Supreme Court of India
Facing a similar matter? Speak to a criminal advocate in Delhi — Advocate Sudhir Rao appears in bail, trial and appellate matters before the Delhi District Courts, the Delhi High Court and the Supreme Court of India.