CHENNAI: The CBI has arrested a man here for stealing product keys of various Microsoft products and cheating unsuspecting consumers by selling them online while causing a loss to the software major, the agency said.

In a statement issued, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) said it has arrested a private person, identified as D.Prabhu. Speaking to IANS over phone, a CBI spokesperson said: "The complaint was lodged by Microsoft. The agency took up the investigation as the alleged offence has larger ramifications."

According to the official, the quantum of loss suffered by Microsoft is yet to be quantified. According to CBI, a case has been registered on the allegations that Microsoft Volume License Service Centre (VLSC) agreements in respect of different overseas and Indian customers of the Microsoft were unauthorisedly being accessed (hacked) for the purpose of stealing product keys of different Microsoft products.

Searches were made at Prabhu's premises leading to recovery of hard disks, a router, a numbers of Microsoft product kits and other documents. The CBI has also frozen the bank account of the accused used to collect the sale amount. The accused was produced before a local court and the agency obtained transit remand.

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