Bhilwara: The Cyber Thana Police in Bhilwara arrested a resident of Gurgaon on Tuesday in connection with a digital arrest fraud case involving Rs 32.75 lakh. The fraudsters allegedly posed as fake CBI and police officers to extort money from a Bhilwara resident.
Details of the Arrest
District SP Dharmendra Singh stated that a special team was formed under the supervision of Bhilwara Cyber Thana officer and IPS probationer Ayush Kshotriya to trace and arrest those involved in the case registered at the cyber police station. According to police, the accused, identified as Anil Kumar, is a history-sheeter from Police Thana Sector 9A in Gurgaon and has been charge-sheeted in 15 cases at the same police station.
Complaint and Modus Operandi
Police reported that the complainant, Prahlad Rai Sodani, lodged a report on May 14 at Subhash Nagar police station in Bhilwara city. In his complaint, he stated that on March 27, he received a call claiming that a SIM card had been issued in Mumbai using his Aadhaar card and that obscene messages had been sent to girls through it. Investigators revealed that the complainant was then subjected to continuous WhatsApp video calls from different numbers by individuals impersonating CBI judges and police officers.
Through threats of digital arrest, the fraudsters allegedly coerced him into transferring Rs 22.5 lakh from his bank account on April 7. Police added that the accused also got Rs 10.25 lakh transferred on April 10, after a fixed deposit was broken from the bank account of the complainant's wife, Sushila. The total amount transferred under intimidation and continuous video calls reached Rs 32.75 lakh.
Legal Action and Recovery
A case was registered under Sections 308(2), 318(4), 319(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, and Section 66D of the IT Act (Amendment 2008), after which an investigation was launched. During the probe, police conducted raids at multiple locations, detained Kumar, and later arrested him after interrogation. Police have secured over Rs 16 lakh lying in various bank accounts linked to the accused. They also obtained court orders for the refund of over Rs 13 lakh from the frozen amount to the complainant.
