Muzaffarpur (Bihar): A retired electricity department officer in Bihar’s Muzaffarpur was allegedly cheated of ₹17 lakh after cyber fraudsters posed as CBI officials, threatened him with arrest and kept him under watch through a video call in the name of a “digital arrest”. Police said three members of the gang have been arrested after a complaint was filed at the cyber police station.
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Retired Officer Targeted Through Video Call
The victim, Bhola Prasad, a resident of Khabbada village under Sadar police station limits in Muzaffarpur, told police that he received a WhatsApp video call from an unknown international number around three weeks ago. The caller allegedly spoke in a stern tone and introduced himself as a senior CBI officer.
According to the complaint, the caller frightened Prasad by claiming that a serious inquiry and major action were underway against him. He was allegedly told that he had committed serious irregularities during his service in the electricity department and that a secret CBI investigation had found the allegations to be true.
Threatened With Arrest, Forced to Transfer Money
The caller allegedly told Prasad that an arrest warrant had already been issued against him and that he could be arrested at any time. He was warned that he had been placed under “digital arrest” through the video call and that if he moved away from the camera, police would immediately reach his home and arrest him.
The accused allegedly claimed that there was proof of a ₹17 lakh embezzlement case against him. Prasad was told that if he deposited the amount into the account provided by the callers, he could avoid arrest and get relief from action. Fearing arrest, he transferred the money from his own account.
Police Trace Transaction Path, Arrest Three
The fraud came to light when the callers allegedly continued threatening him and demanded more money. When Prasad began asking questions, the fraudsters disconnected the call and blocked the number, after which he realised he had been cheated and approached the cyber police station.
Police said a cyber team led by Cyber DSP Himanshu traced the transaction path, mobile numbers and other technical clues to identify local operatives. Raids were carried out in Vaishali, where police recovered international calling devices, lists of bank accounts from several states and other electronic devices.
A suspect identified as Vikram Kumar was arrested during a raid in the Maniyari area of Muzaffarpur. Police said two more accused were arrested on the basis of his information. Officials said all three were linked to the gang and that the wider network is being investigated.
