72 year old Surat man duped of Rs 1.47 crore in digital arrest fraud

A 72-year-old resident of Surat was allegedly cheated of ₹1.47 crore in a sophisticated “digital arrest” cyber fraud, where scammers posed as officials from Mumbai Cyber Crime and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and kept the victim under psychological pressure for 28 days.

The Surat Cyber Crime Cell has arrested Urjit Kavi, 37, from Ahmedabad’s Gota area in connection with the case.

According to police, the fraud began with a phone call in which the accused claimed that a SIM card linked to the victim’s Aadhaar was involved in a money laundering case connected to former Jet Airways Chairman Naresh Goyal. The callers also alleged that anti-national messages had been sent using the same number, framing it as a national security matter.

Investigators said the victim was placed under a fake “digital arrest” through continuous video calls, during which he was monitored and isolated inside his home. He was allegedly instructed not to question the so-called investigation.

Surat Deputy Commissioner of Police Bishakha Jain said the fraudsters used forged documents bearing the names of Mumbai Police and Crime Branch officials to make the case appear authentic. The victim was further pressured to liquidate his savings, investments and bank accounts for “RBI verification” to avoid arrest.

Fearing legal action, the elderly man transferred large sums of money as directed by the fraudsters.

Police tracked financial transactions and digital evidence, leading them to a flat in Ahmedabad where Urjit Kavi was arrested. Authorities said nearly ₹2.84 crore passed through the accused’s ICICI Bank account, including ₹39 lakh from the victim.

Investigators have also linked the account to at least 12 similar complaints across states on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (NCCRP), suggesting a wider organised racket.

Police are now expanding the probe and searching for other suspects, including a woman posing as a CBI officer and two alleged accomplices identified as Satish Nikam and Akash Kulhari.

Officials believe the gang specifically targeted elderly and wealthy individuals using fear-based “digital arrest” tactics.