- Haryana-based accused tracked down in Gujarat as CBI intensifies nationwide crackdown on cyber extortion targeting vulnerable citizens
- Senior citizen was allegedly coerced into transferring ₹25.65 lakh through fake terror links and fabricated arrest threats
- Probe ordered by Supreme Court also helps recover part of the defrauded money, while CBI renews nationwide cyber safety advisory
NE LEGAL BUREAU
AHMEDABAD, JULY 2
In a significant breakthrough against the rapidly expanding menace of ‘Digital Arrest’ cyber frauds, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested a Haryana-based accused from Rajkot, Gujarat, in connection with an interstate cyber extortion case in which a senior citizen was allegedly duped of ₹25.65 lakh through intimidation and impersonation.
The accused, a resident of Karnal, Haryana, was apprehended on June 30 as part of the CBI’s continuing investigation into an organised cyber fraud network that allegedly used fabricated legal threats and fake government identities to extort money from unsuspecting victims.
The case was originally investigated by the State Cyber Crime Police Station, Bhopal, before being transferred to the CBI for fresh registration in compliance with the Supreme Court’s order dated December 1, 2025, in Writ Petition (Criminal) No. 03/2025. The CBI formally re-registered the case on April 11, 2026, against unknown persons.
According to the complaint, the victim, a senior citizen, received a series of intimidating phone calls from fraudsters posing as officials of security and counter-terrorism agencies.
The callers falsely claimed that the victim’s bank account had been linked to terrorism-related activities and threatened her with immediate arrest, criminal prosecution and seizure of her assets unless she complied with their directions.
To make the deception appear genuine, the fraudsters also circulated a fabricated attachment order purporting to be issued by authorities, coercing the victim into transferring ₹25.65 lakh into two different bank accounts.
During the investigation, the CBI succeeded in facilitating the refund of ₹2.65 lakh to the victim after securing the necessary orders from the competent court, providing partial financial relief while efforts continue to trace the remaining proceeds of the crime.
The arrest comes amid a nationwide surge in “Digital Arrest” scams, in which cyber criminals impersonate police officers, CBI officials, ED officers, customs authorities or judges through phone calls and video conferencing platforms, falsely claiming that victims are under investigation and compelling them to transfer money to so-called “safe” or “verification” accounts. Cyber security agencies have repeatedly cautioned that no law enforcement agency conducts arrests, investigations or financial verification through video calls or demands money to avoid legal action.
The CBI urged citizens to remain vigilant against cyber frauds, including fraudulent investment schemes, impersonation calls made in the name of law enforcement or regulatory agencies, and “Digital Arrest” scams.
The agency advised people not to share any personal or financial information, including bank account details, passwords, OTPs or other confidential credentials with unknown or unverified callers.
It further appealed to citizens to report any suspicious cyber-related activity immediately through the National Cyber Crime Helpline (1930), the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal, or the nearest law enforcement agency to enable timely intervention and recovery of funds.
