Bengaluru, Karnataka: A tip-off from Chennai’s cybercrime division has helped Bengaluru police uncover a sophisticated cybercrime syndicate with international links, leading to the recovery of crucial leads and the arrest of two individuals. The investigation has exposed disturbing details of a “digital arrest” scam that left a retired Bengaluru couple defrauded of ₹4.75 crore and unknowingly entrapped for three months.
According to Southeast Deputy Commissioner of Police Sara Fathiema, the alert came from Chennai officials investigating an unrelated cybercrime case. They informed Bengaluru’s Southeast CEN division about a possible victim in BTM Layout—what followed has revealed a trail of transactions, shell accounts, and connections to casinos in Sri Lanka and cyber syndicates in Cambodia.
Retired Couple Held in ‘Digital Arrest’ for Three Months
When police reached the victims’ home in Bengaluru, they found a retired engineer and his wife living in fear, having fallen prey to an elaborate digital scam. The couple believed they were under legal investigation and were coerced into transferring ₹4.75 crore, unaware they were being manipulated remotely.
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“This was not just a scam. It was psychological captivity,” a senior officer said, explaining how fraudsters used intimidation, impersonation, and persistent communication to isolate the couple and control their actions.
Money Mules, Casino Ties, and a Cross-Border Trail
Further investigation led police to Hyderabad, where a bank account that received ₹10 lakh from the couple was traced to Eshwar Singh, a self-proclaimed casino regular. Singh, who had just returned from Sri Lanka, was detained at the Hyderabad airport.
Singh claimed the money came from a refund of unused casino coupons—and that he had simply asked the Sri Lankan casino to transfer the funds to his tenant’s bank account due to tax complications. Records confirmed he had visited the casino 33 times, buying ₹25 lakh in chips and losing ₹15 lakh.
While Singh denied any link to the cyber scam, police believe cybercriminals directed the elderly couple to transfer the scammed funds to the same account Singh had earlier used for casino transactions, raising suspicions of intentional or exploited laundering.
In another angle, Ramnarayan Chowdhary, a departmental store owner in Hyderabad, was also found to have received money from the same scam. Investigators suspect he was befriended by the fraudsters through regular purchases and later used as another “money mule” to move funds.
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Cambodia and Sri Lanka: The New Cybercrime Hubs?
Police suspect the scam’s masterminds are operating from Sri Lanka and Cambodia, using casino networks, fake investment platforms, and digital manipulation to funnel money from Indian victims into offshore channels.
“Once Singh realized what had happened, he contacted the casino—only to be told the matter was outside Indian jurisdiction,” a senior officer said.
Officials are now investigating whether the Sri Lankan casino itself is complicit in money laundering activities. This includes scrutiny of financial networks, bank transfers, and communications linking Indian money mules to organized cybercrime rings based abroad.
Singh had earlier been detained by Customs over his frequent foreign trips but was released after stating he traveled only for casino visits. However, with this cybercrime revelation, his past movements and financial dealings are under renewed scrutiny.