Police have arrested three suspected members of an interstate cybercrime network in a ₹1.20 crore digital arrest fraud, uncovering financial links to more than 5,000 bank accounts across several states.
The victim, Gautam Chandra Das of Barharwa in Jharkhand, allegedly transferred his savings after callers posing as CBI officials threatened him with arrest. The money had been saved for his daughter’s marriage.
A Special Investigation Team formed by Sahibganj Police traced the suspects through banking records and technical analysis. Two were arrested in West Bengal’s Durgapur area, while a third was apprehended in Dhanbad.
Proposal for Conducting Cyber Crisis Drill, Tabletop Exercise (TTEx) & CCMP Readiness Exercise
Three Suspects Held After Interstate Investigation
The arrested men have been identified as Ranjit Baskey, Asit Mahto and Dheeraj Hari, according to the latest local police reporting.
Investigators allege that the suspects helped handle or move money obtained through the fraud. Police are now searching for other people believed to be involved, including an alleged mastermind.
The arrests follow several days of investigation into the receiving accounts and the movement of funds. Earlier reports said police had brought two people from Durgapur for questioning before identifying additional suspects.
The accused remain under investigation, and their precise roles will have to be established through evidence. No conviction has been recorded.
Fake CBI Case Used to Extract Daughter’s Wedding Savings
Das first received a call in June from a man claiming to be a senior CBI officer named Pradeep Singh.
The caller allegedly said that a serious criminal case had been registered against him and threatened him with arrest and imprisonment. The fraudsters kept him under psychological pressure through video calls and even staged a fake courtroom appearance.
According to police, Das was made to appear before a fictitious CBI court three times. He was told that transferring money would help him avoid legal action, fines or imprisonment.
The first major transfer of ₹50 lakh was made on June 20. Over approximately two months, Das allegedly sent nearly ₹1.20 crore through around 10 RTGS transactions. The final reported payment of ₹5 lakh took place on August 24.
He approached Barharwa police on August 31 after exhausting his funds and realising that he had been deceived.
More Than 5,000 Accounts Under Examination
The financial investigation has revealed a much wider network than the initial receiving accounts.
Earlier findings identified more than 4,000 accounts across 16 states. Subsequent reporting placed the number above 5,000, with police examining how the money was moved through multiple layers.
Investigators have also identified accounts belonging to economically vulnerable people that may have been used to route fraud proceeds. In one reported instance, ₹10 lakh was transferred into an account linked to a person in Kolkata before being withdrawn.
Police are examining whether account holders knowingly participated, whether their accounts were rented or misused, and who ultimately controlled the funds.
The number of accounts is not a count of accused persons or victims. It represents the scale of the financial trail being examined and may include accounts connected to other transactions in the suspected network.
₹30 Lakh Traced, Recovery Still Unclear
Police have frozen suspicious accounts and secured approximately ₹30 lakh during the investigation.
Earlier reports documented ₹29.55 lakh frozen or seized by September 2, followed by additional action on other accounts. The latest account places the figure at around ₹30 lakh.
A frozen amount is not necessarily money already returned to the victim. Release of funds depends on the investigation, banking procedures and applicable legal orders.
Authorities are continuing to trace the remaining proceeds and identify the people who received or withdrew the money.
How Money Mules Hide the Financial Trail
A money mule is a person whose bank account is used to receive or transfer money on behalf of someone else, often as part of a fraud network.
Criminals may recruit account holders through commissions, false job offers or other inducements. Some people may knowingly participate, while others may be deceived into allowing their accounts to be used.
The money can then be transferred through several accounts, making it harder to identify the original source and final beneficiary. This process is commonly called layering.
In the Sahibganj case, investigators are attempting to reconstruct the path from Das’s RTGS payments through the wider account network. The available reporting does not establish that all 5,000 accounts were fraudulent or controlled by the arrested men.
What This Means for You: No genuine CBI officer or police agency places a person under “digital arrest” through WhatsApp and demands money to close a case. A video call showing uniforms, official-looking documents or a courtroom is not proof of authenticity.
If you receive such a threat, disconnect and contact the agency through an independently verified number. Never transfer savings to a supposed government verification account. If money has already been sent, contact your bank immediately, call 1930 and file a complaint at cybercrime.gov.in.
https://www.linkedin.com/company/policetechnology/
