Delhi Police bust ₹14.85 lakh 'digital arrest' scam, nab 2 from Bengaluru and Kolkata

In a major crackdown on a rising form of cybercrime, Delhi Police have arrested two men from Bengaluru and Kolkata in connection with a digital arrest scam in which a Delhi-based doctor was defrauded of ₹14.85 lakh.

The accused — identified as Mohammad Sahin Khan and Budhadeb Hazara — were arrested in coordinated operations after the doctor lodged a complaint claiming he was threatened and coerced by someone impersonating a government official, police said July 18.

According to police, the scam followed a familiar modus operandi increasingly seen across India: victims are told they face immediate arrest for alleged offences unless they transfer money to “secure” their release.

One of the accused, Sahin Khan, was apprehended near Victoria Hospital in Bengaluru on July 2. His arrest led police to Budhadeb Hazara, an MBA graduate, who was later caught in Kolkata. Investigators said Hazara had previously worked in the loan departments of several banks before being lured into cyber fraud by a man named John from Barrackpore, West Bengal.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Central) Nidhin Valsan said digital forensics and technical surveillance helped the team trace the fraudulent transaction—originally made on February 26, 2024—to a bogus bank account listed under the name “S K Rice Wholesaler & Trading.”

During questioning, Khan confessed to sharing his bank account credentials, including internet banking login, cheque book, and ATM card, with Hazara in exchange for a ₹1.5 lakh cut. Hazara, police said, received ₹3 lakh for using Khan’s account and split the amount with him.

Further investigation revealed that the same bank account had been used in at least 10 similar complaints across Maharashtra, Gujarat, Telangana, Delhi, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, and Karnataka. The police believe the scam is part of a larger extortion racket leveraging digital impersonation and fear tactics to extract money from unsuspecting victims.

Authorities are now working to trace the main handler, known only as John, and uncover the full extent of the financial network involved in the fraud. Four mobile phones recovered from the accused are being examined for additional evidence.

A case has been registered under IPC Sections 170 (impersonating a public servant), 384 and 388 (extortion), 420 (cheating), and 120B (criminal conspiracy).

Police have urged citizens to stay vigilant against such calls and report any suspicious demand for money to local authorities or cybercrime helplines.