₹1.6 Crore ‘Digital Arrest’ Scam Busted; Three Arrested Including Bank Official in Massive Fraud Case

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested three people, including an assistant manager of a private bank, in a major crackdown on a ‘digital arrest’ cyber fraud racket that duped a senior citizen of over ₹1.6 crore . The coordinated raids were conducted across five locations in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh .

The accused allegedly impersonated law enforcement officials during a video call and falsely informed the victim that he was under “digital arrest.” Using fear and psychological pressure , they forced him to transfer money under the guise of a settlement to avoid immediate legal action.

Investigators found that an assistant manager of IndusInd Bank played a key role by facilitating the opening of a fraudulent corporate account through which the cheated funds were routed. The other two accused managed a network of mule accounts used to channel and launder the stolen money.

Electronic devices and documents were seized during the raids. Officials suspect the involvement of a wider cybercrime syndicate and said further investigation is underway.

The CBI reiterated that “digital arrest” has no legal standing in India and no agency can detain individuals through phone or video calls. Citizens have been urged to remain cautious and report such scams to the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal or local police.