The Central Bureau of Investigation has registered a case in connection with the alleged digital arrest scam of a 73-year-old retired engineer from Delhi’s Rohini, who was reportedly cheated of more than Rs 10 crore, with the agency taking over the probe from the Delhi Police, officials said on Wednesday.
How the Fraud Was Allegedly Carried Out
The retired engineer was targeted in October 2024 by cybercriminals posing as employees of a multinational courier company. They allegedly told him that a consignment booked to China using his Aadhaar card had been returned, setting off the fraud.
He was then connected to associates posing as officers from the Mumbai Police. These individuals allegedly coerced him into transferring money through a series of transactions, claiming the payments were required in the name of police and the Enforcement Directorate chief.
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More Than Rs 10.3 Crore Allegedly Transferred
The victim, who lived with his wife in Rohini’s Sector 10, allegedly transferred more than Rs 10.3 crore to the fraudsters. Based on his complaint, an FIR was first registered by the Delhi Police cyber cell.
Further investigation was later taken up by the Intelligence Fusion and Strategic Operations wing. The reports provided do not specify any arrests, but it indicates that the case had already moved through multiple investigative stages before being handed over.
CBI Takes Over After MHA Transfer
The case was transferred to the CBI by the Ministry of Home Affairs on April 10 this year for a detailed investigation. This followed the Supreme Court taking suo motu cognisance of the rising number of digital arrest scams across the country.
The transfer marks an escalation in the handling of a case that, according to the material, involved one of the largest reported losses in a digital arrest fraud involving a retired individual in the capital.
About the author – Rehan Khan is a law student and legal journalist with a keen interest in cybercrime, digital fraud, and emerging technology laws. He writes on the intersection of law, cybersecurity, and online safety, focusing on developments that impact individuals and institutions in India.
