11.42 crore lost in ‘digital arrest’: CBI arrests 2 more in Gujarat scam, here's how the scam trapped the victim

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested two individuals in connection with a major "digital arrest" fraud case involving a loss of ₹11.42 crore. According to investigators, the victim was kept under online detention for approximately three months by criminals impersonating police officers and officials from the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI). Through constant video calls and threats, the fraudsters controlled the victim's movements and compelled them to transfer massive sums of money into accounts managed by the criminal syndicate.

The recent arrests follow coordinated searches conducted by the CBI across 22 locations in 10 states as part of Operation Chakra-VI. Authorities alleged that the newly arrested individuals played pivotal roles in receiving, layering, and dispersing the illicit funds. Specifically, the suspects allegedly utilized a corporate bank account belonging to Ms Hexaquest Global Pvt Ltd to channel ₹2.5 crore of the total defrauded amount, subsequently moving the money across multiple accounts to hide the financial trail.