CBI arrests two more in Rs 11.42-Cr Gujarat digital arrest case, searches 22 locations across 10 states
New Delhi, Sept 27 (TNT): The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested two more accused in a Rs 11.42-crore digital arrest fraud case originating in Gujarat and conducted coordinated searches at 22 locations across 10 states under Operation Chakra-V.
The arrests are part of the CBI’s nationwide crackdown on cybercriminal networks involved in digital arrest scams, in which fraudsters impersonate law enforcement and government officials to intimidate victims and extort money, the Agency said in a release.
According to the CBI, the victim in the present case was allegedly kept under digital arrest for three months by cybercriminals posing as police officers and officials of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI).
The victim was coerced into transferring Rs 11.42 crore to bank accounts controlled by the accused.
The searches, conducted based on financial and technical analysis of the money trail, led to the seizure of incriminating banking documents, account-related records, digital devices and other evidence.
The seized material is being examined to establish the wider financial and technological network behind the alleged fraud.
The CBI identified the two arrested accused as Himanshu Prasad and Unis Biswas.
Investigators alleged that they received, layered and transferred the proceeds of the crime through the bank account of M/s Hexaquest Global Pvt. Ltd.
The agency said the accused allegedly used the company’s bank account to receive Rs 2.5 crore out of the Rs 11.42 crore defrauded from the victim and transferred the funds to multiple accounts to conceal the money trail.
Investigators also found that the accused allegedly used bank accounts and installed APK files to siphon off proceeds generated through digital arrest frauds and other cybercrimes.
Incriminating chats, messages and documents were recovered from the digital devices seized during the searches. Efforts are underway to identify and apprehend other members of the network.
The CBI said that in four digital arrest cases taken over from various states during the past 30 days, it had conducted coordinated searches at 142 locations across 22 states and arrested 17 accused.
The agency reiterated that no police, CBI or other government agency places anyone under digital arrest or demands money through phone or video calls.
Citizens receiving such calls have been advised to disconnect immediately and report the matter to the National Cyber Crime Helpline at 1930 or through the cybercrime portal.
Further investigation in the case is underway.
TNT KM
