New Panvel Retiree Duped of Rs 13 Lakh in Eight-Day Digital Arrest Scam
A 62-year-old retired man from New Panvel was allegedly placed under digital arrest at his home for eight days and cheated of Rs 13 lakh by cyber fraudsters who threatened him with arrest in a fabricated national security case. The Khandeshwar police have registered a case against an unidentified cybercrime gang and launched an investigation to trace the culprits.
The ordeal began on August 13 when the victim received a call from an individual identifying himself as police officer 'Rohit Kumar' from the 'Indian Data Centre'. The caller claimed that a fake Canara Bank account had been opened in the retiree's name by the banned Popular Front of India and that a SIM card registered under his identity had been used in criminal activities.
To intimidate the victim, the fraudsters initiated WhatsApp video calls wearing police uniforms with a police logo visible in the background. They warned him that the matter concerned national security, claimed he was under formal investigation, and strictly ordered him not to inform anyone.
The victim was forced to isolate himself in a room at his residence under constant surveillance from August 13 to August 20. The fraudsters required him to send regular check-in messages, including 'Good Morning', 'Safe at Home' and 'Jai Hind' every two hours, and 'Good Night' before sleeping. They also displayed forged letters bearing the names of the Supreme Court and the Enforcement Directorate, promising to clear his name if he complied.
Under duress, the retiree broke two fixed deposits worth Rs 8 lakh and Rs 5 lakh. On August 19, he transferred the entire sum of Rs 13 lakh to a current account in the name of Global Chemotech at an ICICI Bank branch in Jalgaon, as directed by the fraudsters.
The scam was uncovered on August 20 when the fraudsters initiated another video call, asking the victim and his wife to sit together while demanding details regarding household gold jewellery and additional bank funds. Suspecting foul play, the victim's wife intervened and urged her husband to contact law enforcement, halting further financial losses.
The Khandeshwar police have registered an FIR under Sections 318(4), 319(2), 351, 204, and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, along with Section 66(D) of the Information Technology Act. Investigators are examining bank transactions and digital communication records to identify the gang members and trace the transferred funds.
