CBI nabs two more in Gujarat digital arrest case

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) arrested two more people on Sunday in connection with a Rs 11.42 crore digital arrest fraud in Gujarat. The agency also searched 22 locations in 10 states as part of Operation Chakra-VI.

This move steps up the CBI’s efforts to fight cyber gangs that pretend to be police or Government officials, keeping victims under virtual detention and forcing them to pay large amounts of money.

CBI said the victim was held under digital arrest for three months by criminals pretending to be police officers and officials from the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI). The victim was forced to transfer Rs 11.42 crore into accounts controlled by the group. After tracking the money, the CBI searched several places and found banking documents, account records, digital devices, and other materials, which forensic experts are now examining.

The two men arrested, Himanshu Prasad and Unis Biswas, are accused of handling, moving, and hiding the stolen money. Investigators found that they used the bank account of M/S Hexaquest Global Pvt. Ltd. to receive Rs 2.5 crore of the stolen funds, then sent the money to several other accounts to hide its origin.

Both men are also accused of using bank accounts and installing APK files to steal money from digital arrest frauds and other cybercrimes. Police found incriminating chats, messages, and documents on the devices they seized. CBI teams are still working to find and arrest other remaining members of the group.

Digital arrest scams have become one of the most harmful types of organised cybercrime in India. Fraudsters usually contact victims by phone or video call, claim the person is under investigation for serious crimes, and tell them not to talk to family or banks. They then demand repeated payments, calling them deposits, fines, or verification fees. This pressure can last for weeks or months, leaving victims alone and without their savings. Many victims are senior citizens or professionals who are isolated for months.

The Supreme Court has directed the CBI to take strong action against those responsible and the networks that help them. In response, the CBI has taken over several digital arrest cases from state police. In the past 30 days, CBI teams searched 142 locations in 22 States and arrested 17 people in four of these cases.

The CBI’s multi-state searches aim to act quickly before the criminals can erase evidence or move the money again. These operations aim to freeze stolen money, identify who received or managed it, and collect evidence before it can be destroyed. Sunday’s raids are part of this ongoing effort. Cyber experts will examine the seized materials to find more connections between mule accounts, shell companies, and the tools used to keep victims isolated.

CBI officials said the investigation is still ongoing, and more arrests are likely as they follow the money trail and communication records.