Manas Dasgupta
NEW DELHI, Sept 4: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has searched 89 locations across 20 states in a nationwide crackdown on organised cybercrime networks accused of carrying out “digital arrest” frauds and have so far arrested three persons in Haryana and Kolkata, the agency said on Friday.
The coordinated searches carried out under Operation Chakra-VI were aimed at tracing the proceeds of fraud and identifying the beneficiaries and handlers behind the syndicates, the agency said. “The operations were meticulously planned on the basis of detailed financial and technical analysis, including examination of bank accounts and online account access data,” it said.
The three arrested during the coordinated action were accused of receiving, layering and distributing money obtained from victims. The raids were conducted as part of investigations into three cases taken over by the CBI from different states. Investigators analysed bank transactions, online account access records and other digital evidence to trace the movement of funds and identify those allegedly controlling or benefitting from the racket.
One case concerned was a victim linked to BITS Pilani who was allegedly kept under “digital arrest” for three months and cheated of Rs 7.67 crore by fraudsters posing as police officers.
In Gujarat, a victim was allegedly subjected to a similar ordeal for three months and defrauded of Rs 19.24 crore. A third case registered in Karnataka involved a person who was allegedly held under “digital arrest” for a month and cheated of Rs 15.45 crore. The three cases together involve alleged losses of Rs 42.36 crore.
During the searches, the CBI seized banking and account records, digital devices and other material considered important to the investigation. The evidence will undergo forensic examination to establish the wider financial and technological infrastructure allegedly used by the syndicates across state boundaries.
“The searches led to the seizure of incriminating banking documents, account-related records, digital devices, and other crucial evidence, which are now being forensically examined to unravel the wider financial and technological infrastructure sustaining the “digital arrest” syndicates operating across State boundaries,” the agency said.
During the operation, the CBI arrested three persons. Their examination revealed their specific roles in receiving, layering and dispersing the fraud proceeds, the investigating agency said. Those arrested were identified as Akash, a Haryana resident, and Kolkata residents Raja Karmakar and Jyoti Rani. According to the CBI, Rs 1.95 crore from the fraud proceeds was deposited into Akash’s bank account. Investigators found that he had opened the account himself and transferred the money to other accounts on the same day, indicating his alleged direct role in laundering the funds.
Karmakar allegedly received Rs 1.5 crore in an account belonging to his firm. Rani’s account also received part of the money, of which she allegedly withdrew a portion in cash and transferred the remainder to other accounts in an attempt to obscure the financial trail.
“Digital arrest” scams involve criminals impersonating police officers, government representatives or other law-enforcement personnel to intimidate victims. The fraudsters typically accuse their targets of involvement in criminal activity, place them under continuous video surveillance and coerce them into transferring money.
The nationwide action follows directions from the Supreme Court for the CBI to proceed against both the perpetrators of such crimes and the wider networks facilitating them. The agency said efforts were continuing to identify and arrest other members of the syndicates. Further investigation is under way.
The CBI said it remained committed to taking decisive action against digital arrest crimes and organised cybercrime networks in accordance with the Supreme Court’s directions. The agency said the investigation into all three cases was continuing, with further examination of the seized banking and digital evidence expected to help uncover the wider network behind the alleged frauds.