Cyber fraudsters duped an 80-year-old woman doctor in Lucknow of ₹1.55 crore after placing her under a fraudulent digital arrest by posing as officers from the Pune Anti-Terrorism Squad. The victim was subjected to continuous video call surveillance and coerced into transferring the money after the callers claimed her identity credentials had been linked to terrorist operations. Following an extensive multi-state probe that tracked fund movements across nearly 300 bank accounts, cybercrime officials successfully recovered ₹43.14 lakh and restored the amount to the victim.
Intimidation Through Digital Arrest
The victim, Dr Jiya Sultana, a resident of Hazratganj, was contacted by the impostors over telephone and told that a serious criminal case involving terrorist activities was tied to her identification details. The accused placed her under what they termed a digital arrest, monitoring her actions through video calls and using threats of immediate legal action and imprisonment to pressure her. Overwhelmed by the sustained intimidation, the senior citizen transferred ₹1.55 crore into multiple bank accounts provided by the fraudsters.
Following the registration of a case at the Cyber Crime Police Station under Sections 318(4), 319(2), and 351(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, along with Section 66D of the Information Technology Act, police launched an inquiry into the fraudulent transactions. Investigators set out to trace the trajectory of the stolen funds and identify the operators behind the syndicated scheme.
Complex Layering Across Multiple States
A probe conducted by the Lucknow Cyber Crime Police revealed that the funds were initially sent to four accounts distributed across Kerala, Karnataka, Gautam Buddh Nagar, and Maharashtra. From these initial destinations, the money was consolidated into an IndusInd Bank account located in Gurugram before being dispersed into nearly 300 additional accounts. Investigators noted that this multi-layered movement was designed to obscure the financial trail, complicate tracing, and conceal the primary beneficiaries.
The police investigation further revealed that the dispersed funds were allegedly utilized for payment settlements connected to a suspected fake gaming application or website. Through swift coordination with relevant banking institutions and enforcement bodies, cybercrime officials managed to freeze multiple compromised accounts. This inter-agency action yielded the recovery of ₹43,14,024, which has been handed back to Dr Sultana, while other identified balances remain frozen pending further inquiry.
Advisory Against Coercive Video Calls
Addressing the growing incidence of such crimes, cybercrime expert and former IPS officer Prof. Triveni Singh stated that digital arrest represents an intimidation tactic aimed at causing prolonged psychological distress through fear of prosecution. He clarified that government bodies possess no lawful authority or procedure to conduct arrests or detentions through video calls. Singh advised members of the public encountering such threats to terminate the conversation immediately and report the incident to law enforcement or cyber assistance helplines.
Police have similarly cautioned citizens not to panic when receiving calls claiming their identification details, bank accounts, or phone numbers are implicated in criminal acts. Authorities strongly urge people to disregard monetary demands, remote interrogations, or arrest threats made by individuals masquerading as law enforcement officials. Timely alerts to police can stop stolen funds from being transferred through additional accounts and assist in wider recoveries.
