Rajasthan Police have detained another suspect in a ₹2.5 crore digital arrest fraud involving a 90-year-old retired judge.
Who Has Been Taken Into Custody?
Rajasthan Police have taken Ebin Basil, a resident of Elamakkara in Kochi, into custody in connection with the alleged cyber fraud. Kochi City Police officials confirmed that Basil was detained on Friday as part of the ongoing investigation.
Earlier, Rajasthan Police, assisted by their Kochi counterparts, arrested Anand Babu, a resident of Mannamthuruthu in Varapuzha. Investigators suspect that bank accounts held by the accused in Kerala were used to receive money fraudulently obtained from the retired judge.
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How Was the Retired Judge Defrauded?
The victim, Ganpat Singh Bhandari, a 90-year-old former district judge, allegedly lost ₹2.5 crore after fraudsters impersonated officials of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and a manager of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
According to police, the fraudsters falsely accused Bhandari of involvement in hawala transactions connected to the Pulwama case. They allegedly threatened him with arrest and kept him under a purported digital arrest for approximately 15 days in August 2026. The accusations were allegedly used to intimidate the retired judge and pressure him into complying with the fraudsters’ demands.
What Have Investigators Found?
Police said the money allegedly taken from Bhandari was transferred into bank accounts belonging to the accused in Kerala. Investigators are examining the suspected involvement of additional individuals from the state.
Rajasthan Police are continuing their investigation, with officials indicating that more people from Kerala may have been involved in the alleged fraud. The detention of Basil follows the earlier arrest of Anand Babu, although the precise roles attributed to the two individuals have not been detailed.
How Does a Digital Arrest Scam Work?
Digital arrest fraud involves criminals impersonating police officers or government authorities and falsely accusing individuals of involvement in criminal activities. Victims are threatened with arrest and pressured into following instructions presented as part of an official investigation. Fraudsters commonly keep victims connected through prolonged video calls, sometimes lasting several days, while demanding money under the pretext of verifying bank accounts or resolving fabricated criminal allegations.
The420 Insight: The alleged fraud against Bhandari illustrates how impersonation of investigative and banking authorities can be used to intimidate elderly individuals. The investigation also highlights the suspected use of bank accounts in another state to receive fraudulently obtained funds. The case remains under investigation.
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