In a distressing incident of cyber fraud, a 69-year-old retired senior officer residing in Mumbai fell victim to a scam where cybercriminals, posing as police and court officials, digitally arrested him for 25 days and swindled Rs 1.57 crore from him. The criminals even went to the extent of conducting a fake court hearing via video call, mentioning a former Supreme Court judge to intimidate the victim.
The Mumbai Police, upon receiving the victim’s complaint, promptly took action, leading to the arrest of an auto-rickshaw driver named Ashok Pal, who played a significant role in the fraudulent scheme by allowing the fraudsters to utilize his bank account for money transfers in return for a commission. The ordeal began on December 6, 2025, when the victim was contacted by a person claiming to be from the Department of Telecommunications, alleging the sending of objectionable messages from the victim’s mobile number and implicating him in a case at the Bandra Crime Branch.
The situation escalated as the victim was coerced by individuals posing as police officers to visit a police office in the Bandra-Kurla Complex, where he was falsely accused of being involved in a money laundering case and linked to businessman Naresh Goyal. The fraudsters, including a fake officer named Vijay Khanna, created a sense of urgency and fear by referring to an alleged investigation. To add credibility, they staged a phony courtroom scenario over a video call, claiming it was overseen by former Chief Justice of India B.S. Gavai, threatening the victim with legal repercussions and immediate arrest if he did not comply.
Under duress, the victim transferred his entire savings, including fixed deposits and mutual funds, totaling Rs 1.57 crore, to designated bank accounts as instructed by the fraudsters for supposed “verification” during the investigation. The scam was uncovered when the fraudulent calls ceased abruptly after the transfers, prompting suspicion. Seeking help, the victim approached the Cyber Cell and filed a formal complaint, leading to the arrest of Ashok Pal, who confessed to aiding the cybercriminals by allowing them to use his bank account. Efforts are ongoing to capture the other members of the fraud network.
Authorities have issued a warning to the public, advising vigilance against such scams and emphasizing that legitimate government agencies or law enforcement bodies never demand money transfers via phone or video calls. They clarified that terms like “digital arrest” or “online court proceedings” in such contexts are entirely fraudulent. Citizens are urged not to panic if they receive suspicious calls and to verify any claims through official channels. In case of suspected cyber fraud, individuals should promptly report the incident to the national cybercrime helpline at 1930.
