New Delhi, A 69-year-old retired scientist and former director in the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology was allegedly cheated of ₹ 1.25 crore in a digital arrest scam, prompting an investigation that led to the busting of an alleged international syndicate linked to handlers in Cambodia and other Southeast Asian countries, officials said on Tuesday.
An FIR was registered at the Special Cell police station, and an investigation was launched to trace the money trail and identify those involved. During the investigation, police received information that a group was arranging bank accounts for use in cybercrime and operating a bank account in the name of M/s MR Traders. They were identified as Neeraj Kumar Mittal, Kanwar Pal, Saif Ali Khan, Ranbir, Prabhat Rai alias Ashutosh and Anil Sagu alias Krishna. The accused allegedly played different roles in providing bank accounts, facilitating transactions and collecting and distributing commissions.
The Intelligence Fusion and Strategic Operations unit of Delhi Police also secured ₹ 7.25 crore in a separate digital arrest case involving a 79-year-old man in Andhra Pradesh and placed a hold on ₹ 1.96 crore in bank accounts linked to ongoing fraud investigations, they said. The investigation began after Pradeep Kumar Das, a retired scientist and former Director in the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, alleged that he was cheated of ₹ 1.25 crore in a digital arrest scam, police said. Under the pretext of verifying his funds, the accused allegedly obtained his bank details and induced him to transfer ₹ 1,25,09,000 through RTGS to three bank accounts. Police raided a premises near Ramphal Chowk in Dwarka’s Sector 7, where five men were found staying.
They also allegedly kept him under continuous video surveillance and controlled his movements, police said. Police said six other accused were arrested in connection with the case involving Das.
On August 14, he received a call from persons posing as officers of the Delhi Police, the Anti-Terrorism Squad and the National Investigation Agency. They allegedly claimed that his Aadhaar details had been misused in a money-laundering case and threatened him with arrest.
