The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has filed a prosecution complaint before a special PMLA court in Ahmedabad in connection with a digital arrest fraud involving two elderly victims who were allegedly cheated of ₹2.95 crore.
The ED’s Ahmedabad Zonal Office filed the complaint following investigations into multiple FIRs registered by cybercrime police in Ahmedabad and Mumbai. Investigators found that the money was routed through more than 50 mule bank accounts, which were also linked to 396 pending cybercrime complaints.
How Were the Elderly Victims Cheated?
According to the ED, the accused impersonated officers of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and police personnel to threaten the victims with arrest.
Using these threats, the fraudsters allegedly pressured the two elderly individuals into transferring substantial amounts of money into designated bank accounts.
One victim transferred ₹1.15 crore, while the other transferred ₹1.8 crore. The combined amount involved in the two cases was ₹2.95 crore.
The money was transferred into accounts linked to Quality Fruit Traders and Shivam Charitable Trust.
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How Was the Fraud Money Transferred?
The ED’s investigation found that the proceeds were routed through a network of more than 50 mule bank accounts.
These accounts were allegedly used to receive and move the money before it was withdrawn in smaller amounts at different locations.
Investigators identified withdrawals across India and Dubai, indicating that the movement of funds extended beyond domestic banking channels.
The use of numerous accounts and withdrawals at different locations formed a central part of the financial transactions examined by the agency.
Why Are 396 Cybercrime Complaints Under Scrutiny?
One of the significant findings of the investigation was the connection between the identified mule accounts and 396 pending cybercrime complaints.
These complaints were recorded on the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) portal.
The connection has brought a wider network of suspicious financial transactions under scrutiny, beyond the two cases involving the elderly victims.
The ED is examining the financial trail to establish how the accounts were used and trace the movement of the suspected proceeds.
What Assets Has the ED Attached?
As part of its investigation, the ED has attached assets valued at ₹38 lakh belonging to the accused.
The attached properties include a flat in Surat valued at ₹30 lakh and three fixed deposits worth ₹8 lakh.
The attachment forms part of the agency’s action in the money laundering investigation associated with the alleged digital arrest fraud.
What Happens After the Chargesheet?
The ED has submitted its prosecution complaint before the special court dealing with cases under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
The investigation remains underway, with the agency continuing to examine the financial transactions and accounts linked to the alleged fraud.
The filing of the prosecution complaint marks a further stage in the proceedings, while the allegations remain subject to judicial examination.
The case highlights how digital arrest fraud can involve financial networks extending far beyond the original victims. The alleged movement of ₹2.95 crore through more than 50 mule accounts, alongside links to 396 pending cybercrime complaints, underlines the importance of tracing financial transactions and identifying accounts used to move suspected fraud proceeds.
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