In a shocking case of cybercrime, Delhi Police have arrested five individuals, including two officials from Yes Bank, for allegedly orchestrating a sophisticated 'digital arrest' scam that defrauded an 80-year-old man and his wife of their life savings amounting to Rs 96 lakh.
The Elaborate Digital Kidnapping
The ordeal began in October last year when the elderly Delhi resident received messages on WhatsApp from fraudsters posing as officials from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and other government agencies. The scammers informed the victim that his mobile number and Aadhaar credentials were linked to serious illegal activities, including money laundering and terror financing.
To instill sheer terror, the accused placed the couple under a week-long 'digital arrest'. They were forced to remain on a constant WhatsApp video call, under 24/7 surveillance, and were instructed not to leave their house or contact anyone. The fraudsters even created a fake virtual CBI office setup and deployed a person posing as a lawyer to apply intense psychological pressure.
How The Life Savings Were Siphoned Off
Under this sustained coercion, the victim was manipulated into believing that multiple FIRs were registered against him. The imposters, claiming to be from Delhi Police, CBI, and Customs, directed him to transfer all his savings into specified 'RBI mandated accounts' for verification, with a false promise of return.
The complainant was forced to prematurely close his fixed deposits, transfer his entire life savings, and even take a gold loan to meet the fraudsters' demands. The transactions culminated in a massive loss of Rs 96 lakh for the retired couple.
The Investigation and Arrests
Following a complaint on November 4, 2025, the Intelligence Fusion & Strategic Operations (IFSO) unit of Delhi Police registered a case. A dedicated team led by Sub-Inspector Munna under ACP Manoj Kumar began a technical investigation.
By analyzing digital footprints and bank account details, the police first traced and arrested Pradeep Kumar from Hisar, Haryana. This led to the apprehension of another key accused, Namandeep Malik.
Further probes revealed the role of Shashikant Pattanayak, arrested from Bhubaneswar, Odisha. Pattanayak allegedly operated the beneficiary bank accounts, facilitated fraudulent GST registrations, and layered the stolen money through multiple accounts to hide the trail.
The most startling revelation was the involvement of two bank officials. Nilesh Kumar (Senior Sales Manager) and Chandan Kumar (Sales Officer) from the Yes Bank branch in Tilak Nagar, West Delhi, were arrested for allegedly helping to open a fake current account using forged documents to siphon the cybercrime proceeds.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (IFSO) Vinit Kumar stated that the syndicate impersonated various government authorities to cheat victims. He confirmed that further investigation is active to identify more conspirators and completely unravel the money trail.
A Warning Against Evolving Cyber Threats
This case highlights the terrifying evolution of cyber fraud, where psychological manipulation through 'digital arrest' is used to target vulnerable elderly citizens. The arrest of bank officials also points to an alarming insider threat in financial frauds.
The police have urged the public, especially senior citizens, to be extremely cautious of unsolicited calls or messages claiming to be from law enforcement or government bodies demanding money transfers. No government agency will ever ask for fund transfers to private accounts for 'verification' purposes.
