Posing as CBI Director, Scammers Execute ‘Digital Arrest’ and Swindle ₹15.45 Crore
Digital Arrest: The fraud began with a phone call in which the caller identified himself as a fake CBI Director, K. Subramaniam. He claimed that two SIM cards registered in the victim's name had been used in suspicious transactions.
Digital Arrest: In Bengaluru, cybercriminals have swindled a record sum of ₹15.45 crore from Ajit Gopalkrishna Saraf, a businessman from Belagavi, by exploiting fear and psychological pressure. Posing as the Director of the CBI, the fraudsters held the victim under ‘digital arrest’ for a month and extorted crores of rupees.
The scam was initiated by a phone call in which the caller identified himself as a bogus CBI Director, K. Subramaniam. The fraudster alleged that two SIM cards registered in the victim's name had been utilized in suspicious financial transactions linked to Jet Airways founder Naresh Goyal.
The criminal claimed that an investigation—conducted following Goyal's arrest—had revealed that Saraf had laundered ₹25 lakh through Canara Bank in exchange for a hefty commission.
How Was the ₹15.45 Crore Looted?
The criminals gained complete control over the businessman by instilling the fear of immediate arrest and imprisonment. He was coerced into refraining from discussing the matter with anyone and was kept under constant surveillance via video calls—a tactic referred to as ‘digital arrest.’
Succumbing to this psychological terror, the victim transferred a total of ₹15.45 crore to bank accounts designated by the fraudsters through various RTGS transactions between February 7 and March 9, 2026.
Investigation Reveals Details
Preliminary investigations by the cyber police have revealed that a highly organized interstate syndicate is behind this massive fraud. The police have identified the 10 primary bank accounts into which the funds were transferred. These accounts are spread across various states, including Hyderabad, Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, Gujarat, and West Bengal. The police are now working with agencies across various states to freeze these accounts and track down the accused.
Disclaimer
No government agency (CBI, Police, ED) ever ‘arrests’ anyone via video call, nor do they demand money. If you receive such a call, please contact 1930 (Cyber Helpline) immediately.
