An elderly NRI doctor couple in Delhi’s Greater Kailash was defrauded of ₹14.85 crore after cybercriminals kept them under a fake “digital arrest” for over two weeks, Delhi Police confirmed on Saturday.
Dr Om Taneja and his wife Dr Indira Taneja, both 77, fell victim to an elaborate cyber scam that lasted from December 24, 2025, to January 10, 2026. The couple, who had served with the United Nations in the United States for nearly 48 years before retiring to India in 2015, lost their life savings to fraudsters posing as law enforcement officials.
How the Fraud Unfolded
The ordeal began on December 24 around noon when Dr Indira Taneja received a call from someone claiming to be from TRAI (Telecom Regulatory Authority of India). The caller warned that her phone number would be disconnected due to alleged obscene calls and complaints.
“They accused me of money laundering and claimed that an FIR and arrest warrants had been issued in Maharashtra,” Dr Indira Taneja recounted. “They connected me to a man in police uniform on a video call.”
The fraudsters created an elaborate setup with banners reading “Colaba police” visible in the background during video calls, lending credibility to their claims. They alleged that a Canara Bank account in her name had been used in a major fraud linked to national security and cited the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
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Continuous Surveillance and Coercion
For 17 days, the scammers maintained constant surveillance through video and phone calls. When Dr Indira Taneja mentioned that her husband was recovering from surgery at AIIMS and they couldn’t travel to Mumbai, the fraudsters offered an alternative.
“They said there was another way. They would keep verifying me and release me quickly, similar to bail proceedings. But until then, verification was necessary,” she explained.
The couple was instructed not to contact anyone during this period. Whenever Dr Indira Taneja stepped out or attempted to make a phone call, the fraudsters would immediately initiate a video call on her husband’s phone to ensure she didn’t alert anyone.
Scripted Bank Visits
Between December 24 and January 10, Dr Indira Taneja was coerced into transferring money to eight different bank accounts. The amounts ranged from ₹2 crore to over ₹2.10 crore per transaction, totaling ₹14.85 crore.
Before each bank visit, she was coached with fabricated explanations to give bank staff if questioned about the large transfers. Even when a bank manager inquired about the unusually high amounts, she repeated the script provided by the scammers.
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The Discovery
The fraud came to light on January 10 when the callers instructed Dr Indira Taneja to visit her local police station, claiming that the money would be refunded by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). She went to the station while still on a video call with the scammers, who even spoke to the station house officer.
It was only at the police station that officers confirmed she had been defrauded. The promised RBI refund was entirely fictitious.
Police Investigation Underway
Delhi Police registered an FIR on Saturday and transferred the investigation to the Special Cell’s Intelligence Fusion and Strategic Operations (IFSO) unit, which handles complex cybercrimes.
Investigators believe the fraudsters exploited the fact that the couple’s children are settled abroad, leaving them isolated and vulnerable. The couple had been living in Greater Kailash since 2016 and were involved in charitable work.
The police are working to trace the bank accounts and individuals involved in the elaborate scam. The couple remains in shock after losing their life savings accumulated over nearly five decades of service.
