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Cyber fraudsters cheated a retired Uttar Pradesh Police sub-inspector of Rs 77.80 lakh after keeping him under digital arrest for six days by threatening to implicate him in terror-related activities. The accused, who posed as senior officers from the Lucknow Police Headquarters and the Anti-Terrorism Squad, sent fabricated arrest warrants, settlement papers, and photographs of weapons over WhatsApp. Under persistent psychological pressure, the victim was forced to visit his bank branch while remaining connected on a call and transfer the funds to separate accounts in Telangana and Gorakhpur. The cyber crime police station has registered a case based on his complaint and initiated a detailed investigation.
Impersonation of ATS Officers Deepened Fear of Arrest
The victim, Gajendra Nath Mishra, a resident of the Kaundhiyara area in Prayagraj who retired from the state police force approximately three years ago, received an unsolicited phone call on October 30. The caller identified himself as Akash Sharma, a senior inspector stationed at the Lucknow Police Headquarters. He alleged that Mishra’s identification documents had been misused on October 23 to obtain a mobile phone number that was subsequently linked to criminal offenses. To heighten the gravity of the situation, the caller transferred the conversation to a purported ATS senior inspector named Neeraj Pandey, who coerced the retired officer into securing a Non-Involvement Certificate.
The complainant was then connected via WhatsApp call to an individual posing as ATS Inspector General Vikram Singh. During these exchanges, the fraudsters claimed that Mishra’s personal credentials were tied directly to serious criminal and terrorist operations, warning him of immediate arrest and imprisonment. To lend credibility to the deception, the scammers transmitted forged arrest warrants, purported settlement agreements, and visuals linked to terrorist networks. They also forwarded pictures of firearms and ammunition to exert intense mental intimidation. Instructed to maintain absolute secrecy and comply with every directive, Mishra was placed under continuous surveillance through an enforced digital arrest that lasted nearly six days.
Victim Directed to Bank Branch While Kept on Active WhatsApp Call
On November 4, the fraudsters directed the retired officer to visit his bank branch while keeping his WhatsApp call active throughout the journey. Following their instructions, Mishra arrived at the Karchhana branch of the State Bank of India. Under real-time guidance from the callers, he transferred Rs 77.80 lakh across two designated bank accounts. The initial transaction of Rs 75 lakh was wired to an Axis Bank account at the Hanumakonda branch in Warangal, Telangana. A second transaction of Rs 2.80 lakh was executed to an HDFC Bank account at the Jhumila Bazar branch in Gola, Gorakhpur. Shortly after concluding the transfers, Mishra realized he had been defrauded and approached law enforcement authorities.
Police Track Beneficiary Bank Accounts and Calling Numbers
According to Cyber Crime Police Station In-Charge Raghvendra Singh, a case has been formally registered following the victim’s complaint. Investigators are currently tracing the operational phone numbers and analyzing the transaction trails of the recipient bank accounts. The probe is focused on identifying the specific account holders, tracking the withdrawal or subsequent routing of the transferred funds, and unmasking the individuals who masqueraded as senior police and ATS personnel.
