Patna. A major digital arrest cyber fraud has come to light in Bihar’s capital, Patna, where cybercriminals allegedly impersonated CBI officers and cheated a retired professor out of ₹82.53 lakh. Investigators allege that the fraudsters kept the victim under a so-called “digital arrest” for several days, threatened him with arrest over fabricated allegations of money laundering and anti-national activities, and coerced him into transferring money to multiple bank accounts.
According to police, the victim, Mohammad Ghyasuddin, a retired professor of Tibbi College and a resident of Nayatola in Phulwari Sharif, filed a complaint at the Cyber Police Station. An FIR has been registered, and an investigation is underway.
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According to the complaint, the fraud began on March 27, 2026, when Ghyasuddin received a phone call from a person claiming to be a CBI officer. The caller alleged that the professor’s mobile number had been used for anti-national activities and that a bank account linked to the number was involved in suspicious transactions worth crores of rupees in a money laundering case.
The fraudsters further claimed that a criminal case had already been registered against him and threatened that he would be arrested immediately and sent to jail unless he cooperated with the so-called investigation. Police allege that the accused used these false claims to keep the victim under constant psychological pressure.
According to investigators, the cybercriminals kept the retired professor under a purported “digital arrest” until April 8, maintaining continuous contact through WhatsApp calls and messages. He was allegedly instructed not to disclose the matter to any family member, friend, or acquaintance. Under sustained fear of arrest and legal action, he transferred a total of ₹82.53 lakh to multiple bank accounts through RTGS and UPI in several instalments.
The complaint further states that the fraudsters continued threatening the professor through WhatsApp until the last week of June. The scam came to light only after one of his acquaintances visited his home. After narrating the incident, the professor realised that he had been cheated and subsequently approached the Cyber Police Station with a written complaint.
Police said investigators are examining all bank accounts, financial transactions, digital records, and electronic evidence connected with the transferred funds. Efforts are underway to identify the cybercriminals and trace the movement of the money.
Experts at the Future Crime Research Foundation said that “digital arrest” is a completely fraudulent concept and that no law enforcement agency conducts investigations or places individuals under arrest through phone calls, WhatsApp, or video calls. They advised the public to independently verify the identity of anyone claiming to represent agencies such as the CBI, ED, police, or the Income Tax Department and demanding immediate money transfers, and to report such incidents to the Cyber Police without delay.
Police said the investigation is continuing, and further legal action will be taken based on the evidence collected.
About the author — Suvedita Nath is a science student with a growing interest in cybercrime and digital safety. She writes on online activity, cyber threats, and technology-driven risks. Her work focuses on clarity, accuracy, and public awareness.
