Eminent Kolkata Scientist Defrauded of Rs 1.1 Crore in Sophisticated Digital Arrest Scam
A 72-year-old internationally acclaimed retired scientist and former researcher at the Chittaranjan National Cancer Institute has fallen victim to a devastating digital arrest scam, losing a staggering Rs 1.1 crore to cybercriminals posing as law enforcement and intelligence officers. The New Town resident, who is also a published author, was targeted in an elaborate fraud that began in mid-January.
Distinguished Background of the Victim
The complainant is no ordinary citizen. He is an Emeritus Scientist Fellowship awardee from the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) in Delhi and received the prestigious Gopal Chandra Bhattacharya Memorial Prize from the West Bengal government in 2019. This award recognized his remarkable 25-year contribution to popularizing science in the Bengali language, making his victimization particularly shocking.
How the Elaborate Scam Unfolded
According to the detailed police complaint, the fraud commenced on January 15 when the scientist received a call from an individual identifying himself as DP Uday Kumar, who claimed to be a senior officer of the cybercrime wing in Bengaluru. The caller immediately adopted a threatening tone, alleging that a child trafficking case had been registered in the scientist's name and that a fraudulent bank account had been opened using his Aadhaar and PAN details.
"The man on the call wanted me to go to Bangalore. When I told him I would not be able to travel to Bangalore, he offered a cyber investigation," the complainant wrote in his official statement to authorities.
Escalation of the Deception
The initial caller then connected the elderly scientist with other individuals who posed as senior Indian Police Service (IPS) officers. These fraudsters systematically intensified their threats, warning of severe legal consequences and informing the victim that he was under official scrutiny. They maintained constant communication through encrypted messaging platforms over several days, during which they presented forged documents including falsified Aadhaar cards and bank materials bearing the scientist's name to reinforce the deception.
The Financial Trap
Police investigations reveal that the accused persuaded the complainant to transfer money under the pretext of "verification" by the Income Tax Department and the Enforcement Directorate. Trusting their official-sounding claims, the retired scientist transferred Rs 1.1 crore via Real Time Gross Settlement (RTGS) to multiple bank accounts across several transactions.
The realization of the fraud only dawned when the callers, instead of returning the money after the supposed verification process, demanded additional funds as "fees." This red flag prompted the victim to finally understand he had been systematically duped.
Police Investigation Underway
The scientist subsequently lodged a formal complaint at the Bidhannagar Cyber Crime Police Station. A Bidhannagar City Police officer stated, "He said he was kept under constant communication for several days through encrypted messaging platforms, during which forged documents, including Aadhaar and bank-related materials bearing his name, were shown to him to reinforce the deception."
Authorities have confirmed that investigations are actively progressing to trace the money trail, identify the bank accounts used in the fraud, and track the phone numbers and digital footprints of the accused. Police are also working to determine whether this sophisticated scam is connected to an organized interstate cybercrime racket, highlighting the growing threat of coordinated digital fraud operations targeting vulnerable citizens.
This case serves as a stark reminder of the increasing sophistication of cybercriminals who exploit trust in official institutions, particularly targeting elderly and distinguished individuals who may be less familiar with digital fraud tactics.
