Lucknow, India —
A retired senior bureaucrat last week found himself in what police are calling a “digital arrest.” Cybercriminals allegedly kept him under continuous surveillance for five days and extorted ₹50 lakh through threats.
Dinesh Prakash Pradhan, who had served as a personal secretary in the Uttar Pradesh Administrative Service, received a call in mid-August. The caller identified himself as an officer of the Jammu & Kashmir Police and accused Pradhan of transferring ₹70 crore to terrorists.
Final Call: Be DPDP Act Ready with FCRF’s Certified Data Protection Officer Program
Surveillance and Threats
According to police, the fraudsters kept Pradhan under constant watch through video calls. They warned him that if he spoke about the incident to anyone, his child would be killed. For five days, he remained connected to the same call, which the criminals turned into his “digital captivity.”
Extortion of Ransom
During this period, the fraudsters coerced Pradhan into transferring ₹50 lakh. Investigators said the amount was demanded as a bribe to avoid arrest in the alleged terror-related money transfer case.
Eventually, Pradhan’s wife filed an FIR at the PGI police station against three unidentified suspects.
A New Cyber Threat
Cybercrime has long been a challenge for law enforcement in India. But cases like “digital arrest” have made the situation even more complex. These scams not only inflict financial losses but also exploit fear and psychological pressure as weapons.
Cyber experts say criminals are no longer relying solely on technical methods, but are now using psychological intimidation and isolation to trap victims.
Former IPS officer and cybercrime expert Professor Triveni Singh said:
“This is a new pattern of fraud in which the victim is made to believe that a government agency is after them. Out of fear, they begin to follow the criminals’ instructions.”
Rising Incidents
Officials said reports of “digital arrest” are increasing across various states in India. The government has urged citizens to immediately report such cases to the national cyber helpline (1930).