New Delhi: In a shocking case of cyber fraud, three individuals have been apprehended for allegedly duping a Delhi resident of ₹25 lakh by subjecting him to a so-called ‘digital arrest,’ police reported on Monday.
The suspects—Rahul Verma, Shantanu Richoriya (26), and Arjun Singh (25)—were arrested at a hotel in the Paharganj area of the national capital. According to authorities, the trio operated from hotel rooms in Delhi and collaborated with accomplices, commonly referred to as ‘mules,’ who were physically present to facilitate the illicit transactions.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Southwest) Surendra Choudhary stated that the victim, Mahender Jain, filed a complaint detailing how he was deceived into transferring ₹25 lakh to a man impersonating a crime branch officer from the Nashik police.
🚨दिल्ली पुलिस @dcp_southwest के साइबर थाने की टीम ने डिजिटल अरेस्ट का झांसा देकर लोगों को ठगने वाले 3 आरोपियों को किया गिरफ्तार
— Delhi Police (@DelhiPolice) May 26, 2025
🌐आरोपियों ने पीड़ित को महाराष्ट्र पुलिस के फ़र्ज़ी अधिकारी बन विडियो कॉल करके "डिजिटल अरेस्ट" के झांसे में ठगे थे ₹25 लाख
🚨पुलिस टीम ने तकनीकी… pic.twitter.com/Wp5NvvDF85
On March 21, Jain received a video call from the fraudster, who claimed that his Aadhaar card details had been misused to open fraudulent bank accounts linked to a money laundering scheme involving a major airline. The caller allegedly displayed a photocopy of a bank card and coerced Jain into transferring his life savings, selling his wife’s jewelry, and making additional payments through online gateways and RTGS.
The fraudster further threatened Jain with police action if he failed to comply with the demands, intensifying the pressure on the victim.
Following the registration of a case under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code, a thorough investigation was launched, leading to the identification and apprehension of the suspects.
“During the interrogation, it was revealed that Rahul Verma initially provided his bank account information to other suspects but later became an active participant in the criminal syndicate,” stated a senior police officer.
The three accused individuals facilitated the movement of illicit funds through mule accounts, established contact with international handlers via social media, and employed fake identities in an attempt to evade detection, the officer explained.
According to police reports, the suspects operated clandestine social media groups and utilized counterfeit phone numbers to execute their fraudulent activities.
To date, authorities have identified seven to eight mule accounts as part of this extensive network. Additionally, they recovered three mobile phones, four SIM cards, three checkbooks, and four passbooks associated with seven different banks from the suspects.
Efforts are ongoing to identify and apprehend other members of the syndicate, the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) confirmed, emphasizing that further investigations are in progress.
The term “digital arrest” refers to a tactic employed by the accused, who impersonate police or law enforcement officials, such as CBI or customs agents. They threaten individuals with arrest by making calls under the pretense of investigating fake international parcels or other fabricated scenarios.
