Conned: Digital arrest robs 82-year-old of Rs 1.16 crore

New Delhi: The cyber cell of the Crime Branch, Delhi Police, has achieved significant success in a high-value cyber fraud case with the arrest of three key members of a syndicate that digitally intimidated an 82-year-old senior citizen and compelled him to transfer Rs 1.16 crore after falsely threatening him with legal action.

Police officials said that the elderly victim was placed under what is commonly referred to as a “digital arrest,” during which the accused posed as law enforcement personnel and warned him of grave legal consequences. The fraudsters allegedly displayed a fabricated arrest order during a WhatsApp video call, subjecting the victim to severe psychological pressure and ultimately forcing him to part with the money.

Investigators disclosed that a substantial portion of the cheated amount—approximately Rs 1.10 crore— was transferred into the bank account of an NGO located in Himachal Pradesh. Police further found that the account was being remotely operated by cyber fraudsters based in Patna, Bihar. The same account has been linked to at least 32 complaints registered on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (NCRP), with the total fraud amount estimated at around Rs 24 crore.

Following detailed technical analysis and financial trail mapping, multiple raids were carried out at different locations in Himachal Pradesh and Bihar. These operations resulted in the arrest of three accused, identified as Prabhakar Kumar (27), Rupesh Kumar Singh (37) and Dev Raj (46).

Police stated that Prabhakar Kumar, a Class 12 pass resident of Nalanda district in Bihar, played a pivotal technical role in the execution of the fraud. He allegedly installed a malicious APK file on the mobile phone of co-accused Dev Raj, activated SIM cards linked to fraudulent bank accounts, and remained in constant touch with cyber fraudsters through WhatsApp virtual numbers. He is also accused of receiving commissions in cash, distributing the proceeds among associates and earning a substantial share for himself.Rupesh Kumar Singh, a graduate and resident of Vaishali district in Bihar, allegedly received the NGO’s current account kit through postal delivery and coordinated meetings of coaccused in Patna. According to police, he facilitated the execution of fraudulent transactions from a hotel, acted as a crucial intermediary between the account holder and the cyber fraudsters, and received a significant commission for his involvement.Dev Raj, a Class 12 pass resident of Sirmaur district in Himachal Pradesh, runs the NGO whose account was used for routing the fraud proceeds. Investigators said he opened the current account in the NGO’s name in connivance with his father Ved Prakash, the authorised signatory. Tempted by easy money, they allegedly handed over control of the account to Rupesh Kumar in Bihar. Dev Raj is accused of sharing internet banking credentials and OTPs, travelling to Patna to facilitate the transactions, and receiving a substantial commission in return.

Police explained that the modus operandi of the syndicate involved impersonating law enforcement agencies, placing victims under digital arrest, and psychologically coercing them with threats of legal action. The cheated money was routed through NGO and personal bank accounts, while internet banking credentials and OTPs were misused to transfer and launder the funds, which were subsequently distributed among the accused as commission.

The operation was executed by a dedicated police team, officials said, adding that further investigation is ongoing to identify additional members of the syndicate and trace more proceeds of the crime.