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1h ago

Lucknow Centenarian Kept in Six-Day ‘Digital Arrest’ as CBI Impersonators Siphon ₹1.29 Crore

Police have registered an IT Act case, with tracing of beneficiary accounts underway.

The caller, identified himself as a CBI officer named Alok Singh, and told Hardev Singh that an arrest warrant was issued against him.
To make the claim appear legitimate, the caller sent a picture of a “digital arrest” notice via WhatsApp, warning that the elderly man had already been “taken into virtual custody.” (Pic for representation)
For representation only (HT Files)
The trio were sent to judicial custody after production before a court on Monday, said police.

Overview

  • Fraudsters claiming to be CBI officers called the 100-year-old on August 20, issued a WhatsApp ‘digital arrest’ notice, and kept him on phone and video calls for six days.
  • The victim’s son, a retired Merchant Navy officer, was coerced between August 21 and 26 to transfer ₹1.29 crore via RTGS to accounts in Bhavnagar, Panaji/Ponda and Jalgaon.
  • Named beneficiaries cited in the FIR include Ujahs Enterprise in Bhavnagar and Shree Nath Traders in Jalgaon, with transfers of ₹32 lakh, ₹45 lakh and additional amounts routed over multiple days.
  • The family contacted the national cyber helpline 1930 and filed an FIR on August 26; Lucknow police registered a case under Section 66D and began efforts to trace the funds.
  • Investigators and media reports describe the case as part of a wider surge in ‘digital arrest’ scams in India that exploit fear and target seniors through impersonation and coercion.