Ranchi’s Cyber Crime Police Station, operating under CID Jharkhand, has arrested two accused from Patna in connection with a sensational cyber fraud case involving ₹59.44 lakh. The scam was executed through a frightening new-age tactic known as “digital arrest,” where the victim was threatened over a WhatsApp call by cyber criminals impersonating officials from central investigative agencies like the CBI.
The arrested duo has been identified as Ajay Kumar Sinha and his son Saurabh Shekhar, both residents of Tikiya Toli Mahendru under Sultanganj Police Station in Bihar’s Patna district. According to the police, the accused exploited fear and impersonation to trap the wife of a government officer residing in Doranda, Ranchi.
On March 28, the victim had filed an FIR against unidentified individuals after being coerced into revealing her bank details. The accused had falsely claimed to be CBI officers and threatened to implicate her in a fictitious money laundering case unless she cooperated.
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Fake NGO Account Used to Launder Crores, ₹1.47 Crore Credited in One Day
In a chilling revelation during the probe, police found that Ajay Kumar Sinha had opened an account in HDFC Bank under the name Mahila evam Gramin Vikas Kalyan Samiti—a fake NGO, likely used to give the fraud an air of legitimacy and shield it under the guise of social work.
The looted funds, amounting to ₹59,44,307 from the Ranchi victim alone, were transferred into this account. Further investigation showed that this was no isolated case. In a single day, ₹1.47 crore was credited to this same account, with Saurabh Shekhar reportedly handling the transactions.
A nationwide alert was triggered when the National Cybercrime Reporting Portal confirmed that the same account had seven complaints registered against it:
- Two from Maharashtra
- One each from Jharkhand, Puducherry, and Bihar
- Two from Uttarakhand
A range of incriminating materials were seized from the accused, including two mobile phones, three SIM cards, WhatsApp chats, cheque books, and Aadhaar cards.
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Cyber Cops Warn Against “Digital Arrest” Scams and Impersonation Threats
The Ranchi cyber police have issued a strong public advisory warning citizens to remain vigilant against cyber criminals who use psychological tactics to induce fear. According to police, the perpetrators pose as officers from agencies such as the CBI, NCB, or NIA, and make video calls where a person is shown in a government uniform to lend credibility to the scam.
Victims are then informed of serious charges like money laundering or criminal conspiracy and are threatened with “digital arrest”—a fabricated term meant to terrorize and confuse the target. Under duress, the victims share sensitive banking credentials or transfer large sums of money to avoid fictitious legal trouble.
Important safety tips shared by police include:
- Never transfer money or reveal banking information to unknown callers.
- No government agency conducts video calls to issue threats or demand payments.
- In case of such incidents, immediately call the cybercrime helpline 1930 or file a complaint at www.cybercrime.gov.in
The cybercrime unit continues to track financial trails and is coordinating with agencies across multiple states to investigate the full extent of the scam.