The central bureau of investigation (CBI) has stepped up its crackdown on organised digital arrest syndicates, carrying out coordinated searches at 89 locations across 20 states and arresting three people in connection with three major cases involving fraud of ₹42.36 crore.
In
a release, the agency said, the nationwide action was carried out under Operation Chakra-VI, its ongoing campaign against organised cybercrime. The agency said the searches were aimed at tracing the flow of fraud proceeds, identifying the handlers and beneficiaries behind the networks and securing evidence before it could be destroyed.
The action follows directions from the Supreme Court, which has taken serious note of the growing threat posed by digital arrest scams and directed CBI to take concerted action against those involved, as well as the wider networks facilitating such crimes.
CBI has taken over several digital arrest cases from different states. In these cases, victims were allegedly coerced into handing over large sums of money after cybercriminals impersonated police officers and other law-enforcement or government officials.
Of the three cases investigated in the latest operation, one involves a victim associated with BITS Pilani, who was allegedly kept under digital arrest for three months and defrauded of ₹7.67 crore by scammers posing as police officers.
In another case in Gujarat, the victim was allegedly subjected to digital arrest for three months and defrauded of ₹19.24 crore by individuals impersonating police officers.
The third case, registered in Karnataka, involves an alleged digital arrest lasting one month, during which the victim was defrauded of ₹15.45 crore.
Taken together, the three cases involved alleged fraud of ₹42.36 crore.
The searches were conducted after detailed financial and technical analysis by the agency. Investigators examined bank accounts and online account access data to identify the movement of stolen funds and to establish links among members of the alleged syndicates.
The operation also resulted in the seizure of banking documents, account records, digital devices and other material considered crucial to the investigation. The seized digital and documentary evidence is now being subjected to forensic examination to map the financial and technological infrastructure supporting the networks across state borders.
Three Arrested Over Alleged Handling of Fraud Proceeds
CBI arrested three people during the operation, alleging that they played specific roles in receiving, layering and dispersing the fraud proceeds.
Akash, a resident of Haryana, allegedly received ₹1.95 crore of the defrauded money in his bank account. According to CBI, he had opened the account himself and transferred the money onwards to other accounts on the same day. The agency said the transactions point to his direct and knowing involvement in laundering the proceeds.
Raja Karmakar of Kolkata was allegedly found to have received ₹1.5 crore of the fraud proceeds in his firm’s account.
The third accused, Jyoti Rani, allegedly received part of the defrauded amount in her account, withdrew some of it in cash and transferred the remaining funds to other accounts. CBI said these transactions indicate her active role in dispersing the money and obscuring its trail.
The agency is now working to identify and apprehend other members of the wider network.
Digital arrest scams typically begin with a phone call or online communication in which fraudsters falsely claim that the victim’s identity, bank account, mobile number or other details have been linked to a criminal investigation. The victim is then threatened with arrest and instructed to remain on a video call while being pressured to transfer money, often under the guise of verification, bail or account-security procedures.
CBI’s latest operation indicates that investigators are focusing not only on the individuals who make the threatening calls but also on the financial networks that receive and move the money.
The agency said further investigation in all three cases is continuing and reiterated its resolve to pursue the wider organised cybercrime networks behind digital arrest frauds and bring those involved to justice.
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