Kozhikode/Mangaluru: A 22-year-old man from Kerala was arrested on Tuesday in a cyber fraud case involving Rs 1.71 crore. The accused, Akash A, a resident of Chokkath in Kozhikode, allegedly used his bank account for cybercrime, police said.

A First Information Report (FIR) was registered under various sections of the Information Technology Act and Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita based on a complaint about fraudulent activities, reported PTI.

The complainant reported receiving harassing calls and messages from an unknown person impersonating a Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) representative. 

The impersonator claimed that a mobile number had been registered in the complainant's name and linked it to unlawful activities in Mumbai.

The fraudster allegedly opened a bank account in the complainant's name at Canara Bank in Mumbai and used it for fraudulent transactions. Through various manipulative tactics, the complainant was defrauded of Rs 1.71 crore in phases, a senior police officer said.

During the investigation, the police traced Akash A's involvement. His bank account was found to be linked to the cybercrime, the officer added.

A police team apprehended him in Kerala and brought him to Mangaluru for further proceedings. He has been produced before the court, the officer said. Efforts are ongoing to trace other suspects involved in the case, police added.