NRI Doctor Couple Loses Rs 14.85 Crore in Elaborate Digital Arrest Scam
Police have uncovered a shocking case where scammers cheated an NRI doctor couple of Rs 14.85 crore through a sophisticated digital arrest scheme. The stolen funds flowed into bank accounts spread across seven different Indian states.
Money Trail Leads to Seven States
Investigators revealed that the scammers transferred the massive sum to accounts registered under various entities. These included charitable foundations, chemical trading companies, recruitment firms, and tour and travel businesses. The accounts served as collection points for the illicit funds.
The largest single transfer of Rs 4 crore went to a bank account in Vadodara, Gujarat. Police have managed to freeze Rs 1.41 crore of the total amount so far. They are now working to trace the complete money trail.
Detailed Transfer Pattern Emerges
The fraudulent transfers followed a specific pattern over several days:
- On December 26, 2025, Rs 1.99 crore went to Jalukbari in Guwahati, Assam
- December 29 and 30 saw consecutive transfers of Rs 2 crore each to Sama Savli in Vadodara
- January 2 brought a Rs 2 crore transfer to Mayur Vihar Phase III in east Delhi
- Rs 2.05 crore moved to Nepean Sea Road in Mumbai on January 5
- Subsequent transfers included Rs 2.1 crore to Wazidpur in Uttar Pradesh on January 6
- Rs 2.2 crore reached Moulali in Kolkata on January 8
- The final transfer of Rs 50 lakh went to Belada in Uttarakhand on January 9
Complex Web of Financial Transactions
Sources familiar with the investigation explained that the money likely moved from these primary accounts into more than 500 mule accounts and digital wallets. The scammers used numerous small transactions ranging from just Rs 10 to Rs 500 to obscure the money trail.
This technique made tracking the funds extremely difficult. Police plan to write to banks for detailed transaction records to follow the complex financial pathway.
Couple Endured 17-Day Digital Ordeal
Dr Indira Taneja, 77, and her 81-year-old husband Dr Om Taneja suffered through a harrowing experience. Scammers placed them under digital arrest from December 24 last year to January 9. The couple remained confined to their Greater Kailash-II residence in south Delhi throughout this period.
The nightmare began with a phone call from individuals posing as Telecom Regulatory Authority of India officials. These fraudsters claimed that more than 20 complaints had been filed against the couple. They accused the doctors of circulating obscene videos and participating in money laundering activities.
Threats and Intimidation Tactics
The scammers employed fear tactics to control their victims. They threatened the couple with imminent arrest, claiming that FIRs had already been lodged against them. Dr Indira recalled their warning: "They told us not to disclose the matter to anyone. They claimed it would endanger our lives."
The Tanejas had spent over forty years living in the United States before this incident. Dr Indira worked as a professor and doctor at the University of Medicine and Dentistry. Her husband served with both the United Nations and the US federal government during his career.
This case highlights the growing sophistication of digital fraud schemes targeting vulnerable individuals. Police continue their investigation while warning citizens to remain vigilant against such elaborate scams.
