Another case of digital arrest by cyber thugs was reported at Regal Paradise Colony of the state capital where an elderly doctor couple was held hostage for 48 hours through video calls.

Permission had to be taken even to go to the washroom. The accused, claiming to be a CBI officer, threatened to implicate the couple in a money laundering case and said that the bank account had been misused. The scared woman also transferred Rs 10.50 lakh through NEFT to the accused's account on Thursday.

The complaint of the case reached Bhopal Police on Friday. Then the couple was rescued. During this, there was a heated argument between the fake CBI officer and the real police on a video call. The accused told the police not to interfere in our work.

Ragini Mishra (65) and her husband Maheshchandra Mishra (67) live in flat number 708 located on the seventh floor of Regal Paradise Phase-2. Both are doctors and were posted in Kanpur earlier. They have been living in Bhopal for the last four years.

Ragini told the police that she had gone out for a morning walk in the colony on Wednesday morning and when she returned she  got a call. The caller introduced himself as a CBI officer.

He said that your personal bank account is being used for money laundering. Rs 427 crore has come into it illegally. A Korean airlines company has made several transactions in this account.

The accused were in police uniform, CBI banners were put up

When I said that I did not have an account in the bank, he told me that your Aadhaar card has been used to open the account. Other accounts have also been opened with this. All are being used for illegal activities and when I clarified, the accused talked to me on a video call. He was in a police uniform and the background was like an officer's room. Banners with CBI written on them were also visible. He said that you look like a good woman. You will be defamed in newspapers and media. We will investigate the matter.

The accused assured the victim that the case will be investigated. If you are innocent, you will not be arrested. If you cooperate in the investigation, we will help further. They were told that they will have to remain under online surveillance. They were asked to return home. Later, the victim's house was watched using 360 degree cameras.

They were asked to stay in a room. Where they locked themselves. When the husband returned, he was informed about the matter. The husband spoke to the accused. They also engaged him in conversation and asked him to cooperate in the investigation. After this, the husband and wife were kept in digital captivity and monitored 24 hours a day.

Permission had to be taken even to go to the washroom. They were rebuked for being away even for a few minutes. They were not allowed to attend anyone's call. Thus the couple remained hostage from 8 am on Wednesday to 2 pm on Friday.