The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Thursday launched a major nationwide operation against digital arrest and cyber fraud networks, conducting coordinated raids at more than 80 locations across 16 states under Operation Chakra-VI. The operation is aimed at dismantling an alleged organized network involved in large-scale digital arrest scams that have targeted hundreds of victims across the country.
For the operation, the CBI constituted around 60 special teams that simultaneously carried out searches in Punjab, Gujarat, Delhi, Maharashtra, Haryana, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Assam, West Bengal, Manipur, Karnataka, and Odisha.
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Following the raids, the agency arrested two individuals—one from Kolkata and another from Chennai. According to the CBI, the accused were allegedly involved in incorporating shell companies and opening and operating mule bank accounts that were used to channel and conceal funds generated through cybercrime activities.
Preliminary findings suggest that approximately ₹2 crore in suspected proceeds of crime was routed through these accounts as part of an alleged money laundering network. Investigators are now examining banking records, digital evidence, financial documents, and transaction trails linked to the operation.
The CBI said the action is part of an ongoing and broader investigation targeting organized networks believed to be connected to more than 200 digital arrest and cyber fraud cases reported across the country. In digital arrest scams, fraudsters typically impersonate police officers, investigative agencies, judicial authorities, or government officials and intimidate victims into transferring money by threatening arrest, legal action, or account freezes.
Authorities have noted a significant rise in such crimes in recent years. Cybercriminals frequently use video calls, forged documents, fake identity cards, and convincing digital communication methods to create a sense of fear and urgency among victims. In many cases, individuals have reportedly lost substantial amounts of money after being manipulated into believing they were under official investigation.
Renowned cybercrime expert and former IPS officer Prof. Triveni Singh has repeatedly warned that digital arrest scams are primarily driven by social engineering tactics. According to him, criminals exploit fear, confusion, and psychological pressure to convince victims to transfer funds. He has emphasized that no legitimate law enforcement or government agency conducts a “digital arrest” through phone or video calls or asks citizens to transfer money to so-called “safe” accounts.
The operation is being viewed as a significant step in the ongoing effort to dismantle cyber fraud syndicates operating across multiple states. The CBI stated that the analysis of seized electronic devices, documents, and financial records is continuing and that further arrests or legal action may follow depending on the evidence uncovered.
Investigators are currently working to identify the complete structure of the network, trace the flow of funds, uncover beneficiaries, and establish links between the suspects and various cyber fraud cases under scrutiny. The investigation remains ongoing.
