Rajarhat man lost Rs 1.04 crores in digital arrest, Bengal police arrests two accused from Karnataka

A chilling "digital arrest" scam left a Rajarhat resident shattered by a massive Rs 1.04 crores after fraudsters posing as police and court officials kept him virtually hostage for over two weeks. Sunith Kumar Ray, who lives in Rajarhat's SRCM Road area, was told in September that an arrest warrant was out against him for sending harassing messages and involvement in human trafficking. Terrified of immediate arrest and public shame, the victim transferred the huge amount in multiple instalments between 9 and 24 September to bank accounts dictated by the scammers. Only when the demands refused to stop did he realise he had been cheated and approached the police on 6 October.

Acting swiftly on the complaint, the investigators of Narayanpur PS under Bidhannagar Police Commissionerate traced the money trail to Mysore in Karnataka. On a daring raid led by Sub-Inspector Raja Saha, police arrested two key accused – Naveen R (35) and Indradhanush J (33) – both residents of Rajendranagar area in Mysore. The duo was produced before a local court in Mysore which granted five days’ transit remand. They were further brought to Bengal and produced before the Barrackpore court today, where police sought 10 days’ custody to recover more money and unearth the full gang.

Such "digital arrest" frauds have exploded across India this year, with crooks using video calls in fake police/various administrative uniforms, forged court documents and non-stop fear tactics to extract crores from frightened citizens. Bengal Police have warned people repeatedly that no real agency ever threatens arrest over phone or asks for money transfer to stay "safe". Officers says several similar complaints are pouring in daily and more arrests are expected in this case.