Patna: The Muzaffarpur cyber police have dismantled a cyber fraud gang involved in a large-scale 'digital arrest' scam, cheating victims of Rs67 lakh by impersonating central agency officials. Two key accused — Priyaranjan Sharma (62) and his son Anant Abhishek — were arrested from the Rajiv Nagar area in Patna on Sunday evening.
Complaint and Modus Operandi
The arrests followed a complaint lodged by Mahesh Gami (66), a retired bank employee and resident of Amgola under Kazi Mohammadpur police station area in Muzaffarpur. Gami approached the cyber police after realising he had been duped following days of intimidation and deception by fraudsters posing as senior officials.
According to the complaint, on March 26, Gami received a WhatsApp video call from a man who introduced himself as a CBI officer. The caller alleged that Gami's Aadhaar card had been misused in cases linked to terrorism and money laundering and claimed a Rs5 crore financial offence had been registered against him. The fraudsters warned him of imminent arrest and severe legal consequences.
Psychological Pressure and Digital Arrest
From March 26 to April 7, 2026, the victim was kept under constant psychological pressure through continuous WhatsApp video calls. Acting as officials from multiple agencies, the accused instructed Gami not to step out of his house or inform anyone, effectively placing him under a 'digital arrest'. To make the threat appear genuine, they sent forged documents purportedly issued by the Supreme Court, Reserve Bank of India, Central Bureau of Investigation and Enforcement Directorate, threatening action under serious legal provisions.
Fearing arrest and reputational damage, Gami transferred a total of Rs67 lakh to bank accounts provided by the fraudsters — Rs42 lakh on April 4 and Rs25 lakh on April 6. Upon realising that he had been cheated, he lodged a complaint at the Muzaffarpur cyber police station on April 9.
Investigation and Arrest
Following directions from the senior superintendent of police (SSP), a special investigation team was constituted. “Based on technical analysis and tracking of suspicious bank transactions, the accused were traced to Patna and arrested,” DSP Himanshu Kumar said.
During the raid, police seized Rs23,900 in cash, a laptop, 16 chequebooks, two passbooks, three cellphones, four seals, a pen drive, three scanners and several banking documents allegedly used to execute the fraud.
Nationwide Network
The DSP said investigations revealed that the father-son duo allegedly ran a nationwide cyber fraud network by opening bank accounts in the names of NGOs to siphon off money. “Over 70 complaints from multiple states are linked to their bank accounts, indicating the scale of the operation,” he added.
This case highlights the growing menace of digital arrest scams, where fraudsters use fear and impersonation to extort money. Authorities urge citizens to remain vigilant and report such incidents immediately.
