Bengaluru: This digital-arrest story goes beyond the ordinary, and has all riveting elements of a courtroom drama: Fraud, trial, arguments, and a judgment. A former MLA of Aurad constituency in Bidar district is the latest to fall victim to the latest digital arrest fraud, losing Rs 31 lakh from Aug 12 to 19.According to a complaint filed by the victim with Cyber Crime police on Sept 6, fraudsters called him around 6pm on Aug 12 from mobile number 8464988135. The caller introduced himself as a CBI officer and accused him of being involved in money-laundering and found bank accounts in his name and debit cards which came to light during a raid on Jet Airways founder Naresh Goyal.Claiming a case was registered against him in Mumbai, the CBI officer threatened to arrest him. The victim suspected it was a fraud call, but the crook drove fear into him and made him believe he was a probe officer.When the victim pleaded innocence, “the fraudster collected my biography and property details”, the victim told police later. The fraudster then told him the call would be transferred to another investigating senior officer.A person named Neeraj Kumar introduced himself as a deputy commissioner of police. When the victim sought exemption from a probe, Neeraj told him considering his “age and background”, they would conduct a virtual investigation and put him under ‘digital arrest’.The victim was under surveillance on a WhatsApp call. The fraudsters warned him against informing anyone about the call as the case was highly sensitive. The fraudsters flashed their ID cards, arrest warrant, and the copy of the case registered against him. During the video call, they showed a setup that looked like a police station.Around 1pm the next day, the fraudsters produced the victim before the ‘judge’ on a video call. After arguments by police and hearing the victim, the ‘judge’ ordered him to write an undertaking that he was not guilty of the fraud. Later, the ‘judge’ ordered him to transfer Rs 10.99 lakh through RTGS to a bank account mentioned by police officers.The victim followed the instruction. From Aug 14, Neeraj Kumar and another officer, Sandeep Kumar, subjected him to interrogation every day and collected details of his family members, their bank accounts, and other personal details.Four days later, he was again produced before the ‘judge’ on camera. The ‘judge’ directed the victim to transfer Rs 20 lakh as deposit so the Directorate of Enforcement and CBI could investigate his properties and bank accounts and assured him “to return the money to his account after verification”.The victim transferred Rs 20 lakh to another account on Aug 18 through RTGS. After a couple of days, the victim realised it was a fraud and informed his family members and friends.Police have registered a case of cheating and impersonation under Information Technology Act and BNS 318 and 319.
