Chandigarh Police Crack Down on Digital Arrest Racket, Arrest Six Including Chennai Mastermind
Chandigarh Police have made a significant breakthrough by arresting six individuals involved in a sophisticated digital arrest fraud. The scam duped a local resident of Rs 38 lakh through threats and impersonation. The mastermind, based in Chennai, took inspiration from the popular movie KGF, naming himself 'Rocky'. This arrest highlights the growing menace of cybercrime in urban areas.
How the Fraud Unfolded: Threats and Coercion
The case began on January 7 when a Chandigarh resident received threatening phone calls. The callers pretended to be officials from the Colaba police station in Mumbai. They falsely accused the victim of involvement in a money-laundering case. The intimidation tactics escalated quickly.
The fraudsters threatened the victim with immediate arrest and confiscation of his property. To make the threats seem real, they sent forged arrest warrants and fabricated documents. The victim also received WhatsApp video calls displaying the name 'Colaba Mumbai police'. During these calls, a person dressed in police uniform declared the victim under arrest.
Another call appeared to come from the 'CBI director'. This caller alleged misuse of the victim's Aadhaar card. Under intense psychological pressure and fear, the complainant transferred Rs 38 lakh to bank accounts provided by the accused. The victim and his wife remained under what police term 'digital arrest' from the evening of January 7 until the end of January 8.
The Mastermind and His Chinese Connections
Police identified the key accused as Fazal, a resident of Chennai. He adopted the alias 'Rocky', inspired by the lead character from the KGF movie series. A Venkatesh, Deputy Superintendent of Police for cybercrime, revealed crucial details about Rocky's operations.
Rocky maintained direct contact with Chinese nationals through the Telegram application. He acted as a coordinator in the fraud network. His role involved providing real-time information about incoming fraudulent money. He received instructions on when and from which bank accounts to withdraw the cash.
Rocky then directed his associates to withdraw the money and convert it into cryptocurrency. For every transaction, he allegedly earned a commission of approximately 10 percent. The converted cryptocurrency was transferred further as per directions from his foreign handlers. This international link adds a complex layer to the investigation.
Arrests and Recovery of Evidence
The Chandigarh Police registered an FIR on January 9 under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. These sections include extortion, cheating, fraud with documents, forgery, and criminal conspiracy. The investigation moved swiftly after the complaint.
Police obtained KYC and beneficiary details of suspected bank accounts. Financial analysis showed that Rs 4.50 lakh was withdrawn by cheque from an account linked to the second layer of fraud. This account was in the name of Veena Rani, 29, from Ferozepur.
Technical surveillance confirmed Veena Rani's presence in Chandigarh on January 9. Police arrested her near Nirman Theatre in Sector 32. She admitted to withdrawing fraudulent funds and handing over Rs 4.40 lakh to her associates as commissions.
Based on her disclosure, police conducted raids in Burail and Sector 45. These raids led to the arrests of Dharminder Singh alias Laddi, 40, from Fazilka, Sukhdeep Singh alias Sukh, 28, from Fazilka, Satnam Singh, 40, from Ferozepur, and Mukesh alias Prince, 25, from Sector 45 in Chandigarh.
Further investigation revealed that Mukesh facilitated the conversion of cash into cryptocurrency on Rocky's directions. A special police team was sent to Chennai. There, they arrested Rocky from his rented accommodation. Police recovered two mobile phones, two laptops, and passbooks and chequebooks for multiple bank accounts from him.
From all the accused, police seized ATM cards, passbooks, chequebooks, mobile phones, electronic devices, and cash. They sent the seized devices and bank account details to the cyber forensic laboratory for detailed examination.
Ongoing Investigation and Preventive Measures
With assistance from the National Cybercrime Reporting Portal and Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre operators, police placed a substantial portion of the defrauded amount on hold. This action prevented further loss and helped in tracking the money trail.
Geetanjali Khandelwal, Superintendent of Police for cybercrime, emphasized the seriousness of the case. The police are now focusing on tracing the international network involved in this racket. They aim to identify additional beneficiaries and understand the full scope of the operation.
This arrest serves as a warning to cyber criminals. It also highlights the need for public awareness about digital arrest scams. Citizens should remain vigilant against unsolicited calls threatening legal action. Verifying such claims through official channels is crucial to avoid falling victim to such frauds.
The Chandigarh Police continue their investigation to dismantle the entire network. They are working closely with national agencies to tackle cross-border cybercrime effectively.
