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Delhi Police have arrested three individuals from Rajasthan’s Mewar region for allegedly duping a Delhi resident of ₹14 lakh through a ‘digital arrest’ sextortion scam. The accused—identified as Vasim (30), Javed (48), and Khalid—posed as Crime Branch officials to extort money from the victim by threatening legal action over manipulated explicit videos.
The incident came to light when the victim approached the cyber police station, reporting that he had been blackmailed after a WhatsApp video call. During the call, an obscene video played, prompting the victim to undress, which was secretly recorded. Subsequently, he received three explicit videos of himself, accompanied by threats from an individual claiming to be a Crime Branch officer.
Cybercriminals Used Deepfake-Like Sextortion Tactics
The fraudsters alleged that the woman in the video was a minor and that the victim’s phone had been tracked by the police. To avoid legal consequences, the victim was coerced into transferring ₹1.5 lakh initially, followed by additional payments of ₹2.5 lakh, ₹4 lakh, and ₹6 lakh, totalling ₹14 lakh.
Crime Traced to Mewar Region
Investigators traced the money trail to Mewat, a region known for cybercrime activities. Raids conducted in the Deeg district led to the arrest of Vasim and Javed. During interrogation, Vasim disclosed that Khalid had orchestrated the recording of the explicit videos and impersonated a Crime Branch officer. Khalid was subsequently apprehended.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (West) Vichitra Veer stated, “The accused manipulated the victim into a compromising situation and then exploited his fear of legal repercussions to extort money.”
The trio has been charged under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Information Technology Act. Authorities are investigating whether the accused were involved in similar scams targeting others.
This case highlights the growing threat of ‘digital arrest’ scams, where cybercriminals exploit victims’ fears by impersonating law enforcement and fabricating legal threats to extort large sums. Law enforcement urges the public to remain alert and report any such activity via helpline 1930 or the national cybercrime portal.
About the Author – Anirudh Mittal is a B.Sc. LL.B. (Hons.) student at National Forensic Sciences University, Gandhinagar, with a keen interest in corporate law and tech-driven legal change.
