Khargone (Madhya Pradesh): An interstate cyber fraud racket that used the fear tactic of so-called “digital arrest” to extort money from unsuspecting citizens has been busted by police in Khargone district, with two young men arrested from Rajasthan’s Phalodi town and assets worth several lakh rupees seized.
The accused allegedly posed as officers of central investigation agencies, threatened victims with fabricated terror-funding allegations, and coerced them into transferring money through RTGS by keeping them under continuous psychological pressure for days.
The case came to light after an 80-year-old retired professor, a resident of the Sanawad police station area, reported that he had been cheated of ₹10 lakh earlier this month. Acting on the complaint, police launched a technical probe that eventually led them across state lines.
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According to the complaint, the victim received a WhatsApp call on January 9 from a man who introduced himself as an officer from the National Investigation Agency (NIA) headquarters. The caller falsely claimed that documents linked to the victim’s wife’s bank account had been recovered from a terrorist arrested in Jammu and Kashmir, allegedly showing transactions worth nearly ₹7 crore.
To lend credibility to the threat, the fraudsters sent forged arrest warrants and official-looking notices via WhatsApp, warning that both the victim and his wife would be taken into custody if they failed to “cooperate” with the investigation. The callers insisted the matter was classified and instructed the victim not to contact anyone.
Over the next three days, the elderly man was kept on near-constant phone calls, a common tactic used in such scams to prevent victims from seeking help. Under fear of immediate arrest, he was made to transfer ₹10 lakh through RTGS into multiple bank accounts shared by the accused.
It was only after the calls stopped that the victim realised he had been duped and approached the police on January 15.
A detailed financial trail analysis and inputs from the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (NCRP) revealed that the defrauded amount had been routed through bank accounts in Bengaluru before reaching accounts operated by individuals based in Rajasthan. A police team was subsequently dispatched to Phalodi, where Virendra Jat (19), son of Ruparam Jat, and Ramswaroop Vishnoi (21), son of Ghevarram Vishnoi, were arrested.
During the operation, police seized ₹3,01,900 in cash, 17 bank and ATM cards, 10 cheque books, five passbooks, two mobile phones, and four SIM cards, indicating the organised nature of the operation and its reliance on multiple mule accounts.
During interrogation, the arrested men admitted that two other associates — Arvind and Sanjay, currently absconding — made the threatening calls from Bengaluru while impersonating investigating officers. The arrested accused allegedly handled cash withdrawals and logistical support, handing over the proceeds to the main callers.
Investigators also uncovered that the gang had targeted victims beyond Madhya Pradesh. The accused confessed to cheating a resident of Tamil Nadu of ₹17 lakh using a similar “digital arrest” script, suggesting a wider interstate footprint.
Police officials have reiterated that “digital arrest” has no legal basis and warned citizens against falling for calls or messages claiming instant arrest by central agencies over WhatsApp or video calls. No law enforcement agency, they stressed, conducts investigations or demands money through such means.
Efforts are currently underway to track down the remaining accused and identify additional victims who may have been targeted by the gang using the same modus operandi.
About the author — Suvedita Nath is a science student with a growing interest in cybercrime and digital safety. She writes on online activity, cyber threats, and technology-driven risks. Her work focuses on clarity, accuracy, and public awareness.
