NAGPUR: A 60-year-old man from Bhubaneswar, Odisha, has been arrested by Nagpur Cyber Police for allegedly defrauding a city resident of ₹23.71 lakh in a meticulously crafted “digital arrest” scam.
The complainant reportedly received phone calls on July 2 and 3 from individuals impersonating officials from the Telecom Department and Colaba Police Station. The caller falsely claimed the victim was under investigation for money laundering and warned of an imminent “digital arrest” unless he complied.
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Forged Documents Used to Threaten Victim
To build credibility, the accused shared fabricated legal documents through digital platforms. These forged files included logos and stamps of the Supreme Court of India, Mumbai Police, Reserve Bank of India, Enforcement Directorate, and the Supreme Court Bar Association. Under psychological pressure and fearing arrest, the victim transferred ₹23.71 lakh to an account with the Bank of Maharashtra (A/C No. 60538001303).
A formal complaint was registered at Nagpur Cyber Police Station on July 15. Police booked the accused under several sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including 318(2), 318(4), 319(2), 336(2), 336(3), 338, 340(1), 340(2), 204, and 3(5), in addition to sections 66(C) and 66(D) of the Information Technology Act, 2000.
Accused Traced and Arrested in Bhubaneswar
The suspect, identified as Ranjankumar Vishnucharan Patnaik from Jagatsinghpur district, was not found at his registered address. His mobile number was switched off. Using technical surveillance, investigators located and arrested him in Bhubaneswar on August 5.
Following his arrest, he was produced before a local court and remanded to police custody until August 11. Authorities confirmed that ₹19,90,392.98, frozen in the accused’s account, has been ordered to be returned to the victim.
The operation was led by a cybercrime team under Sr PI Baliram Sutar, with technical support from API Shankar Pandhare and constables Vinod Tondfode and Rinkesh Thakur, under the supervision of senior officials including Commissioner Ravindra Singhal and Joint Commissioner Naveenchand Reddy.