An elderly couple residing in an upscale South Delhi neighbourhood has revealed the terrifying details of a sophisticated 'digital arrest' fraud that led to them losing a staggering Rs 14.85 crore. The victims, Om Taneja (81) and his wife Dr. Indira Taneja (77), were allegedly trapped by fraudsters impersonating officials from the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) and the Mumbai police.
The Fateful Call That Started the Nightmare
Dr. Indira Taneja was preparing to leave for a charitable event on a Sunday afternoon when she received a phone call that would upend their lives. The caller, claiming to be from TRAI, informed her that a mobile number registered in her name was linked to a major money-laundering case in Mumbai. "They told me they were disconnecting my number. I said it wasn't even mine," Indira recounted. The caller then patched her through to the Colaba police station.
What followed was a video call from a man identifying himself as Vikrant Singh Rajput, who appeared in a police uniform with an official emblem in the background. He alleged that a man named Naresh Goyal had duped the Defence Ministry of Rs 500 crore using a Canara Bank account in Indira's name. "I was then told that a warrant had been issued against me as a key associate of Goyal, and against my husband as a co-accused," she said.
The Elaborate Con: Fake Hearings and Digital Confinement
The fraudsters then orchestrated an elaborate charade to isolate the couple and extract money. Om Taneja, who was recovering from surgery, explained they were made to write 15 letters to different authorities explaining their inability to travel to Mumbai. The next day, Indira was subjected to a fake online Supreme Court hearing over a video call.
Under the guise of a "verification process," the con artists instructed the couple to transfer money to specific accounts, promising the funds would be sent to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) for assessment and later returned. A man claiming to be IPS officer DK Gupta joined the call, providing an RBI number for future reference.
The first demand was for Rs 1.99 crore via RTGS. The scammers enforced strict isolation: Indira was sent alone to the bank with her husband's phone, while Om was kept on a constant call at home with her phone. "My husband was kept on a call at home and constantly monitored. I was told my life was in danger and that Goyal’s men were watching us. I couldn’t tell anyone," Indira revealed.
The Relentless Financial Drain and Eventual Exposure
Over the following days, a series of large transfers were demanded and executed, with the couple instructed to tell bank officials the money was for charitable donations. The transactions occurred on:
- December 29: Rs 2 crore
- December 30: Rs 2 crore
- January 2: Rs 2.05 crore
- January 5: Rs 2.5052 crore
- January 6: Rs 2.10 crore
- January 8: Rs 2.20 crore
- January 9: Rs 50 lakh
By January 9, eight RTGS transfers totalling Rs 14.85 crore had been made. The scammers then declared the verification complete and asked Indira to go to the nearest police station with the RBI number to collect her money. DK Gupta remained on the call as she went to the CR Park police station.
The scam unravelled at the police station. When the Station House Officer (SHO) expressed confusion about the RBI number, the fraudster on the call began shouting at her. In the heated exchange, Indira asked about DK Gupta. "He died," the caller quipped. "That’s when the SHO realised it was a digital arrest scam and disconnected the call," Indira said.
Aftermath and Investigation
The couple, who had lived in the US for 45 years before retiring to Delhi, are still grappling with the shock. "We live alone, but we are educated. They showed me images of my Aadhaar card and PAN card. It all felt too real," Indira stated. Om Taneja noted the convincing nature of the scammers, saying, "I spoke to them at length. We discussed everything—from engineering and the environment to religion."
The couple has reported the crime to the National Cyber Crime Helpline 1930. An e-FIR has been lodged, and the Cybercrime unit of the Delhi Police has initiated an investigation into one of the most substantial digital fraud cases targeting senior citizens in the capital.
