Tue Apr 15 07:35:39 UTC 2025: **Headline: CBI Busts “Digital Arrest” Scam, Arrests Four in Nationwide Operation**
**NEW DELHI, April 15, 2025** – The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) announced the arrest of four individuals in connection with a nationwide “digital arrest” fraud scheme. The arrests, part of “Operation Chakra V,” followed searches at 12 locations across Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, and West Bengal.
The scam involves criminals posing as law enforcement officials, including those from the Reserve Bank of India, who contact victims via phone and video calls. They intimidate victims into believing they are under “digital arrest” for a fabricated offense and extort large sums of money for their supposed release.
In one case investigated by the CBI, a victim was allegedly extorted ₹7.67 crore (approximately $930,000 USD) over three months. The case, initially registered by Rajasthan cyber police, was transferred to the CBI. The agency’s investigation, utilizing advanced techniques, led to the identification and arrest of two individuals each from Mumbai and Moradabad.
Authorities seized substantial evidence during the searches, including bank details, digital devices, and documents. The arrested individuals have been remanded to five days of police custody. The arrests follow Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s October warning about the “digital arrest” fraud, urging citizens to report such incidents.
First Piper 