Two Men From Mumbai Arrested in ₹14.36 Lakh “Digital Arrest” Cyber Fraud Case
Rourkela: In a major breakthrough against cybercrime, police in Rourkela have busted a sophisticated “digital arrest” fraud racket and arrested two men from Mumbai who were allegedly part of an interstate cybercrime syndicate.
The case involves a fraud of approximately ₹14.36 lakh, in which a local resident was tricked and mentally pressured through a fake “digital arrest” scenario created by cyber criminals. The accused reportedly used fear tactics and impersonation methods to extort money from the victim.
How the fraud was carried out
According to police officials, the victim was targeted through an elaborate cyber scam where fraudsters posed as law enforcement or government authorities. They allegedly created a fake environment of legal trouble, falsely claiming the victim was under “digital arrest” and needed to comply immediately with their instructions.
Under pressure and fear of legal consequences, the victim transferred a large sum of money to accounts controlled by the fraudsters.
Arrest of two Mumbai-based suspects
Following an investigation, Rourkela police traced the money trail and identified two key suspects linked to the fraud network. The arrested individuals have been identified as:
- Nayan Lalit Nathwani (47)
- Dhabal Paresh Pandya (35)
Both accused are reported to be GST-related brokers and are suspected of helping route and manage fraudulent financial transactions.
Police have also seized two mobile phones and several documents that are believed to be linked to the financial operations of the scam network.
Widespread interstate cyber network
Preliminary investigation suggests that the accused were part of a larger inter-state cybercrime syndicate operating across multiple states, including Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Telangana, and Odisha.
Officials believe that the gang is not limited to national boundaries and may be connected to a broader international cyber fraud network. Authorities are now working to identify additional members involved in the racket and trace the complete money trail.
Police statement and ongoing investigation
Officials stated that the case was originally registered at the Cyber Police Station in March. Since then, investigators have been tracking digital footprints, bank transactions, and communication records to uncover the larger network behind the scam.
A senior police officer, DIG Brijesh Kumar Rai (Western Range, Rourkela), said that the operation is ongoing and that efforts are being made to identify other members of the syndicate. He also emphasized that police are actively following additional financial trails connected to the accused.
Growing concern over “digital arrest” scams
Authorities have warned that “digital arrest” scams are becoming increasingly common, where fraudsters impersonate law enforcement agencies to psychologically pressure victims. These scams rely heavily on fear, urgency, and confusion to extract money from unsuspecting individuals.
Police have urged citizens to remain cautious, verify any such claims independently, and immediately report suspicious calls or messages.
News source: Information for this article was gathered from a variety of reliable news outlets.
