A special CBI court in Mohali has rejected the bail application of a 26-year-old man accused of facilitating access to a bank account allegedly used to route proceeds from a ₹2 crore digital arrest fraud involving a retired Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) chief engineer.
The accused, Rahul Kumar Patra, a resident of Jamshedpur in Jharkhand, was denied bail after the court examined banking records, digital evidence and statements collected during the investigation.
Retired Engineer Targeted Through Fake Government Calls
According to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), complainant Sukhmander Singh began receiving calls on May 9, 2025, from individuals impersonating government and law enforcement officials.
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The callers allegedly claimed that a SIM card issued in his name had been misused in Mumbai and falsely connected him to a ₹538 crore bank-related money laundering case.
₹2 Crore Transferred Through Ten Transactions
Investigators said the fraudsters threatened Singh with legal action and subjected him to continuous phone and video surveillance, creating the impression that he was under digital arrest.
Between May 13 and June 11, 2025, Singh transferred ₹2 crore through ten RTGS transactions from his State Bank of India account to nine bank accounts.
He reportedly realised the deception on June 12 when the callers demanded that his wife join the conversations.
CBI Traces Suspected Money Trail
The Punjab and Haryana High Court directed the CBI to investigate the case on March 17, 2026. The agency registered its case on March 25.
Investigators alleged that an HDFC Bank account belonging to Saismruti Charitable Trust received ₹15 lakh from the complainant on May 23, 2025. The amount was allegedly transferred onwards that day.
The account was operated by authorised signatories and trustees Bibekananda Dixit and Jayant Kumar Acharya.
Banking Credentials and Digital Evidence Examined
The CBI alleged that Dixit supplied banking credentials and an associated SIM card to Chandan Kumar Singh, who subsequently provided access to Patra.
Investigators cited mobile numbers, internet banking records, handset links and contact information recovered from a phone associated with Patra in Kolkata.
The device was sent to the Central Forensic Science Laboratory for examination, with its report awaited.
Court Rejects Defence Arguments
Patra’s counsel argued that he had no contact with the complainant and suggested that his phone’s VPN identity might have been misused. The CBI opposed bail, alleging that Patra’s role emerged from digital and banking evidence and that he was not cooperating with investigators.
Special Judicial Magistrate Karanvir Singh Maju observed that the material required further scrutiny, while investigations involving other accused remained underway.
The agency filed a chargesheet against eight accused on August 27, 2026.
What Does This Mean?
The bail rejection highlights the importance of tracing bank accounts, digital credentials and intermediaries in digital arrest investigations.
The court clarified that its observations would not affect the merits of the trial. The investigation remains ongoing, with the defrauded money yet to be fully recovered.
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