In the glow of ringing phones and borrowed authority, fear was traded like currency, and trust slipped quietly into the dark alleys of the internet.
Cybercrime investigators have arrested six individuals from across India for their involvement in two major digital fraud cases that collectively deprived a retired central government employee and an elderly lawyer of ₹2.8 crore. The accused include mule bank account holders and operators who facilitated large-scale financial transactions for cybercriminal networks.
A dedicated Pimpri Chinchwad cyber police team, led by senior inspector Ravikiran Nale, travelled more than 5,000 km across Kerala, Telangana, Karnataka, and Mumbai to apprehend the suspects.
Elderly Victims Lose ₹2.8 Crore in Cyber Scam; ₹64 Lakh Recovered
The first case dates back to September, when a 65-year-old retired central government employee from Sangvi was defrauded of ₹1 crore. She received calls from fraudsters who falsely claimed that drugs were discovered in a parcel registered in her name. Posing as police officers, they intimidated her with threats of arrest and coerced her into transferring the money. In another incident the same month, a 70-year-old lawyer lost ₹1.8 crore after scammers impersonating CBI officials told him that his Aadhaar card had been linked to money laundering activities.
According to Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime) Shivaji Pawar, swift technical investigation by the cyber police led to the arrests. One suspect was found involved in both cases, while two were linked to the retired employee’s fraud and three to the lawyer’s case. Pawar added that timely action allowed the police to freeze ₹64 lakhs from the fraudulent transactions, offering partial relief to the victims.
Major Breakthrough as Police Nab Cyber Scam Operators Handling Crores
Assistant Inspector Pravin Swami revealed that Mohammed Arif (35) from Hyderabad played a central role as an operator managing mule bank accounts. Arif is also an accused in a massive ₹58-crore cyber fraud case under investigation by Maharashtra Cyber, with ₹7.86 crore routed through his account. Another accused, Jigar Patel (23) from Mumbai, worked with a chartered accountant and handled cash withdrawals and hawala transfers, with ₹8.68 crore channelled through his bank account. Kerala resident Ajith Vijayan (36), a transport operator, received ₹70 lakh linked to the retired employee’s case.
In the lawyer’s case, three Karnataka residents—BCS student Mohammed Tajmul (18), Sayyad Shaukat (20) from Mysuru, and Sachin Prakash (26)—were arrested for accepting and forwarding fraudulent funds. Investigators noted that over 31 complaints nationwide are connected to the accounts used by these accused.
Though the money trail led across thousands of miles and countless screens, the chase proved this much—no shadowed network is vast enough to outrun the patient light of the law.
Summary:
Cyber police arrested six people across India for duping a retired government employee and a lawyer of ₹2.8 crore through fake police and CBI calls. Key mule account operators linked to larger scams were caught, and ₹64 lakhs was recovered. Over 31 related complaints are under investigation nationwide.
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