In a shocking case of cybercrime from Jaipur, a 75-year-old senior citizen was held under “digital arrest” for three days by cyber fraudsters posing as officers from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The fraudsters extorted ₹23.56 lakh from him under the threat of false money laundering charges. They later demanded an additional ₹20 lakh. However, a vigilant bank manager intervened when the elderly man attempted to break his fixed deposit, thereby preventing further loss and leading to the registration of a police case.
Fake Courtroom on Video Call, Bank Accounts ‘Seized’
The cybercriminals called the elderly man on May 23 from two different phone numbers. Claiming to be officials from Colaba Police Station in Mumbai, they accused him of being involved in a ₹2.8 crore money laundering case. They threatened him with a non-bailable warrant. Subsequently, another fraudster posing as a CBI officer named “Rohit” joined the call and reinforced the arrest threat. To add credibility, the fraudsters initiated a video call showing a fabricated courtroom with a fake judge announcing that all his bank accounts were being seized.
Victim Complied Out of Fear, Transferred ₹23.56 Lakh
According to SOG Cyber Police Station in-charge Hariram Meena, the elderly man became so frightened by the threats and visuals that he obeyed every instruction from the fraudsters. Over three days, he transferred a total of ₹23.56 lakh to the accounts provided by the criminals.
Bank Manager’s Alertness Prevents Further Fraud
When the fraudsters asked for another ₹20 lakh, the man went to his bank to break a fixed deposit. This raised suspicion with the bank manager, who counseled the senior citizen and alerted the authorities. The matter was reported to the SOG Cyber Police Station, where a case under relevant sections of the IPC and IT Act was registered. Some of the transferred amounts were also put on hold due to the manager’s timely action. Investigation teams have been sent to track the trail of the transferred funds.
Another ₹6 Lakh Fraud Using NIA Chief’s Name
In a related case, cybercriminals impersonated the Director-General of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and extorted ₹6 lakh from a victim in Gandhinagar. According to CI Bhawani Singh, the fraudsters threatened the complainant, Paramanand Bhargava, with allegations of involvement in a terrorist conspiracy related to the Pahalgam attack. Fearful, he transferred ₹6 lakh to the accounts provided by the criminals. A separate case has been registered and investigation is underway.
Investigation Ongoing
Both incidents highlight the growing menace of sophisticated cyber frauds in India. Police have urged citizens to remain cautious, verify caller identities, and never transfer money under pressure from unknown sources.
