In a shocking case of cyber fraud, a retired government official residing in Ajmer fell victim to a sophisticated 'digital arrest' scam, losing a staggering sum of Rs 57 lakh to criminals posing as Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) officers. The elaborate con, which lasted for nearly two weeks, has sent ripples through the local community and highlighted the growing menace of online financial crimes.
The Elaborate Digital Kidnapping Scheme
The victim, identified as Jagdish Asthani, a former official of the Indian Veterinary Research Institute in Bareilly now settled in Ajmer's Vaishali Nagar, received a distressing phone call on December 20, 2025. The caller introduced himself as Rajendra, a CBI officer, and levelled serious allegations against Asthani. He claimed that the retired official's Aadhaar card had been misused in a high-stakes money laundering operation. The fraudster warned that a formal case would be registered against Asthani, leading to his immediate arrest.
The threat was delivered with such conviction that it instilled deep fear in Asthani and his wife. Believing the caller to be a genuine law enforcement authority, the couple complied with the instructions given to them over the following days. This state of coercion, where victims are psychologically trapped and controlled remotely, is commonly referred to by cybersecurity experts as a 'digital arrest'.
Financial Drain Under False Pretenses
Acting on the fraudsters' demands, Asthani began liquidating his life savings. The police report details that he first withdrew Rs 29 lakh from three separate fixed deposits. Merely two days later, on December 22, he took out another Rs 8 lakh. This financial hemorrhage continued from December 20 until January 2, during which the terrified couple transferred a total of Rs 57 lakh to accounts specified by the accused.
The scam took an even more audacious turn when Asthani's pension was credited. The impersonators, not satisfied with the massive sum already extracted, demanded that the pension amount also be transferred to them. It was at this point that a flicker of defiance emerged in Asthani. Exhausted by the trauma and the incessant demands, he refused to part with his pension money.
Breaking Free and Seeking Justice
The refusal to transfer the pension money triggered a wave of threats from the criminals. However, this time, Asthani stood his ground. Instead of succumbing to the pressure, he gathered the courage to step out of the virtual prison the fraudsters had created and approached the authorities. On Monday, he formally registered a First Information Report (FIR) at the district cybercrime police station in Ajmer.
The case has now been taken up for investigation by Deputy SP of Cybercrime, Shamsher Khan. The police are examining the digital trail, including phone records and transaction details, to track down the perpetrators. This incident serves as a grim reminder of the psychological tactics employed by modern cybercriminals, who exploit fear and authority to orchestrate complex financial frauds.
Authorities urge the public, especially senior citizens, to be vigilant. They emphasize that no government agency will ever demand immediate money transfers over the phone or threaten arrest without due process. Verifying the identity of callers through official channels and consulting with family members before acting on such threats are crucial steps to prevent falling prey to similar digital kidnapping scams.
