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Retired Officer Loses ₹42.40 Lakh In Digital Arrest Scam…

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activeCyber Crime / Digital ArrestPan India

Retired Officer Loses ₹42.40 Lakh In Digital Arrest Scam In Belagavi

A 72-year-old retired officer living in Belagavi fell victim to a cyber fraud known as a digital arrest, according to local police reports. The perpetrators targeted the senior citizen by making initial phone contact and later switching to a WhatsApp video call to execute the scam.

State

Multiple States

First reported

October 2026

Amount alleged

₹42.40 Lakh

Agency involved

Cyber Crime, Economic Offences and Narcotics (CEN) Police, Belagavi

Status

Police complaint registered and under investigation

The full story

Everything you need to know about this case, in one place.

The caller falsely claimed to be an IPS officer associated with the Central Bureau of Investigation. The fraudster intimidated the retired officer by alleging that his mobile number was used to circulate objectionable videos and that his bank account was linked to money laundering.

Fearing arrest and serious criminal consequences, the victim transferred a total of ₹42.40 lakh across multiple bank accounts as demanded by the callers. The illicit transactions reportedly took place over a period of several days before a formal police complaint was lodged.

Following the incident, a formal complaint was registered with the Cyber Crime, Economic Offences and Narcotics Police station in Belagavi city. Authorities have initiated an investigation into the cyber fraud.

Not yet reported: The articles do not mention whether any suspects have been identified or arrested, nor do they detail the recovery of any funds.

Where the case stands

The latest position in the reports we read.

A formal police complaint has been registered with the CEN Police in Belagavi city, and an investigation into the cyber crime is underway.

Who was affected

Described in general terms; we do not name victims.

A 72-year-old retired officer residing in the Tilakwadi area of Belagavi.

Timeline

Key dates as reported, oldest first.

October 3, 2026The victim received the initial call from the cybercriminals, which marked the beginning of the scam.

October 3 to October 9, 2026The victim transferred a total of ₹42.40 lakh across multiple bank accounts under digital arrest threats.

How the scam worked

The method described in the reports.

The scammer contacted the victim by phone and gathered information about his family members.
The fraudster initiated a WhatsApp video call and posed as a senior law enforcement official from the Central Bureau of Investigation.
The caller intimidated the victim with false accusations regarding money laundering and the circulation of objectionable videos.
The criminal threatened the victim with imminent arrest to induce fear and compliance.
The victim was manipulated into transferring large sums of money to various specified bank accounts.

Targeted by something similar?

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Sources and further reading

Optional. The full story is above; these are the original reports it was prepared from.

allaboutbelgaum.comOriginal report All About BelgaumOpens via Google News Retired Belagavi Officer Cheated Of Rs 42.40 Lakh In Digital Arrest Fraud - News MobileNews Mobile · 20 Oct 2026

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