The Central Bureau of Investigation has arrested two more people in connection with a ₹11.42-crore “digital arrest” case in Gujarat, following coordinated searches at 22 locations across 10 states under its nationwide crackdown, Operation Chakra-VI.
The arrested men, identified as Himanshu Prasad and Unis Biswas, are accused of having received, layered and dispersed the proceeds of the crime. The agency said on Sunday (September 27) that the pair allegedly used the bank account of M/s Hexaquest Global Pvt Ltd to receive ₹2.5 crore out of the ₹11.42 crore defrauded from the victim, and then transferred the funds onwards to multiple accounts belonging to their accomplices to obscure the money trail.
How the alleged fraud worked
In the case under investigation, the victim was kept under “digital arrest” for nearly three months by cybercriminals posing as police officers and officials of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India. The victim was allegedly coerced into transferring ₹11.42 crore into bank accounts controlled by the syndicate. In a digital arrest scam, fraudsters typically pose as police or government officials on video calls to trick victims into believing they face immediate arrest.
What the CBI found
The agency said the investigation revealed that both accused were allegedly involved in using bank accounts and installing malicious APK files to siphon off proceeds generated through digital arrest frauds and other cybercrimes. Several incriminating chats, messages and documents were recovered from digital devices seized from their possession, the CBI said, adding that efforts are underway to identify and apprehend the remaining members of the network.
Wider crackdown
The searches also led to the seizure of banking documents, account details, digital devices and other evidence. The CBI said the action forms part of its sustained offensive against the syndicates behind such frauds, which it described as a grave threat to citizens across the country. The agency noted that the Supreme Court of India has directed the CBI to take concerted action against the perpetrators and the wider networks facilitating these offences.
The agency has taken over multiple digital arrest cases from various states. In four of the cases, the CBI has carried out searches at 142 locations spanning 22 states and arrested 17 accused persons over the past 30 days.
Sources:
- The Hindu — CBI conducts searches in 10 States over ₹11.42 crore Gujarat ‘digital arrest’; 2 more arrested
- ETV Bharat — Two More Held By CBI For Rs 11.42 Crore ‘Digital Arrest’ Case In Gujarat
The arrested men, identified as Himanshu Prasad and Unis Biswas, are accused of having received, layered and dispersed the proceeds of the crime. The agency said on Sunday (September 27) that the pair allegedly used the bank account of M/s Hexaquest Global Pvt Ltd to receive ₹2.5 crore out of the ₹11.42 crore defrauded from the victim, and then transferred the funds onwards to multiple accounts belonging to their accomplices to obscure the money trail.
How the alleged fraud worked
In the case under investigation, the victim was kept under “digital arrest” for nearly three months by cybercriminals posing as police officers and officials of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India. The victim was allegedly coerced into transferring ₹11.42 crore into bank accounts controlled by the syndicate. In a digital arrest scam, fraudsters typically pose as police or government officials on video calls to trick victims into believing they face immediate arrest.
What the CBI found
The agency said the investigation revealed that both accused were allegedly involved in using bank accounts and installing malicious APK files to siphon off proceeds generated through digital arrest frauds and other cybercrimes. Several incriminating chats, messages and documents were recovered from digital devices seized from their possession, the CBI said, adding that efforts are underway to identify and apprehend the remaining members of the network.
Wider crackdown
The searches also led to the seizure of banking documents, account details, digital devices and other evidence. The CBI said the action forms part of its sustained offensive against the syndicates behind such frauds, which it described as a grave threat to citizens across the country. The agency noted that the Supreme Court of India has directed the CBI to take concerted action against the perpetrators and the wider networks facilitating these offences.
The agency has taken over multiple digital arrest cases from various states. In four of the cases, the CBI has carried out searches at 142 locations spanning 22 states and arrested 17 accused persons over the past 30 days.
Sources:
- The Hindu — CBI conducts searches in 10 States over ₹11.42 crore Gujarat ‘digital arrest’; 2 more arrested
- ETV Bharat — Two More Held By CBI For Rs 11.42 Crore ‘Digital Arrest’ Case In Gujarat
