The Cyber Unit of Delhi Police’s Special Cell has arrested two individuals—Amit from Ghaziabad and Hari from Assam—for allegedly duping a 92-year-old retired surgeon of ₹2.2 crore in a sophisticated digital arrest scam. The scam, executed in March 2025, involved impersonation, psychological coercion, and misuse of government identities.
Police officials revealed that the accused posed as officials from the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) and later impersonated a senior officer of Maharashtra Police to intimidate the victim into transferring the funds. The incident highlights the growing threat of social engineering frauds targeting vulnerable citizens, especially the elderly.
Thanks to swift action and cyber forensic tracking, the police have recovered the entire ₹2.2 crore and returned it to the victim’s account. Investigations have also uncovered that the arrested duo were working under the instructions of a foreign-based cybercrime syndicate kingpin, whose location is currently being traced.
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The Modus Operandi: Threat, Intimidation, and Psychological Control
The incident began on March 15, 2025, when the elderly doctor, a resident of Delhi and former medical practitioner, started receiving multiple calls from different numbers. The callers claimed to be representatives of TRAI, falsely alleging that multiple FIRs had been registered against him for regulatory violations.
Soon after, the victim was lured into a video call with a man posing as an Assistant Commissioner of Maharashtra Police, who dramatically presented a fake arrest warrant. The impersonator warned the victim of imminent jail time unless he complied with immediate monetary transfers. Under duress and fear, the surgeon followed the instructions without informing anyone—even his family. He transferred ₹2.2 crore to bank accounts controlled by the accused. He was also instructed to remain constantly available on the phone, a common psychological control tactic used in digital arrest scams.
Only after the calls ceased did the victim suspect foul play. Realizing he had been duped, he approached local authorities and filed an official complaint.
Police Operation and Ongoing Hunt for Syndicate Leader
Following the complaint, the case was transferred to ACP Vivekanand Jha of the Cyber Cell, who led the investigation. The cyber team meticulously tracked the bank transactions and froze the victim’s funds before they could be laundered abroad. This swift action saved the entire amount from being lost permanently.
Through digital trail analysis, the police identified Amit and Hari as the key operatives who facilitated the scam and routed the money to the syndicate’s network. They were arrested earlier this week, and three mobile phones were seized, which are now serving as critical evidence in the investigation.
Police say these phones hold clues linking to other syndicate members and international handlers. A manhunt for the kingpin is underway, with Delhi Police coordinating with national cybercrime agencies and possibly Interpol to trace the overseas operatives. This case adds to a growing list of digital arrest frauds, a new-age cybercrime tactic where victims are psychologically manipulated into believing they are under legal threat—leading them to surrender large sums of money to avoid arrest.
Authorities have urged the public—especially senior citizens—to verify any legal or financial threats received over the phone and avoid making transactions without due diligence. The case has once again highlighted the importance of cyber awareness and the role of rapid police intervention in minimizing damage. Citizens are encouraged to report such incidents immediately to the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (www.cybercrime.gov.in) or local cyber cells for swift redressal.