In a major cybercrime breakthrough, Mumbai Cyber Police arrested three Gujarat-based fraudsters for duping a retired Air India official of Rs 67 lakh via a fake ‘digital arrest’ scam. Impersonating CBI officers, they used video calls and forged documents to extort money. A money trail and cross-border links are now under investigation.
Representational Image. File Pic
In a major breakthrough to counter cybercrime, the North Cyber Police have arrested three individuals from Gujarat. The accused who have been arrested were involved in a “digital arrest” scam that duped a retired Air India official of Rs. 67 lakh. The alleged scammers impersonated Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) officers and manipulated the victim through fear, deception, and fake documents.
The Digital Trap
The incident unfolded between 10 and 18, 2024, when the 63-year-old victim, a Malad West resident and retired Air India official, was targeted through a series of calculated calls and video messages.
The fraud began with a call from someone posing as a Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) official, alleging that a phone number registered in his name was involved in harassment.
Soon after, the complainant received a WhatsApp video call from a man identifying himself as CBI Officer Suraj Kumar. He accused the victim of money laundering, drug trafficking, and human trafficking, allegedly conducted through a fake bank account opened in Delhi using the victim’s Aadhaar number. To intensify the fear, the accused shared fake CBI summonses via PDF and threatened High Court action and arrest.
Panicked and psychologically cornered, the victim remained on continuous video calls for several days and transferred Rs 67 lakh to multiple bank accounts as directed by the fraudsters.
The Arrests and Investigation
Taking the matter under consideration, senior officials, including police inspector Kiran Aher and the North Cyber Police PSI Amol Kamble, along with a team including head constable Pavanskar and police constable Sagar Meghe, tracked the culprits using technical surveillance, bank trail analysis, and call detail records. The probe led the team to Gujarat, where coordinated raids were carried out.
The three accused who have been arrested are Vedant Jankidas Mahant (26), resident of Mathura Nagari Society, Vadodara; Mohit Hareshbhai Bhutaiyya (27), resident of Bhayli Kenan Road, Vadodara; and Bhavik Jasbhai Patel (43) from Chandralok Society, Vadodara.
Further investigations revealed that Bhavik Patel had provided his bank account for receiving fraudulent funds. He later withdrew the cash and handed it over to his co-accused, retaining Rs 6,000 as commission. Police have also issued a notice to one Sagar Balu Shelke, whose bank account was initially used to receive Rs 30 lakh from the victim.
Money Trail and Modus Operandi
A police official, while addressing the incident, said, "The accused employed a layered banking system to disguise the fraudulent transactions. After receiving the money from the victim, the funds were routed through various accounts to make tracking difficult. The group heavily relied on WhatsApp for communication, using video calls and fake government documents to maintain psychological pressure on the victim.”
During interrogation, it was revealed that Vedant had previously travelled to Dubai to convert fraudulent Indian rupees into US dollars. These dollars were then routed back into India, where Vedant sold them to local buyers at a commission. His associate Bhutaiyya allegedly provided the bank accounts, while Patel’s account was used to deposit and disburse the scammed funds.
However, all three accused were brought to Mumbai on June 28 and produced before the Borivali Metropolitan Magistrate Court. The police sought a 7-day custody for further interrogation.
Amid further developments, it has been reported that police have issued a notice under Section 35(3) of the IT Act to Sagar Balu Shelke, who allegedly lent his bank account to Rohan Rohidas Tawar for use in the fraud. Authorities are probing deeper into the racket and investigating leads on potential cross-border fund transfers, hawala networks, and other accomplices, the officer added.
Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!
