CBI Launches Nationwide Crackdown on Digital Arrest Scam Syndicates Under Operation Chakra-VI:

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has launched a major nationwide crackdown on cybercrime syndicates involved in “digital arrest” scams under Operation Chakra-VI. The action comes amid growing cases of people being threatened and cheated by criminals posing as police officers and other government officials.

The Supreme Court of India has also taken serious note of the increasing number of digital arrest crimes and directed the CBI to take coordinated action against those involved in such offences and the wider networks supporting them.

As part of the operation, the CBI took over several digital arrest cases from different states. In these cases, victims were kept under so-called digital arrest by scammers who pretended to be law-enforcement or government officials. The victims were threatened with arrest and forced to transfer large amounts of money.

In three major cases, the CBI conducted searches at 89 locations across 20 states. The searches were carried out simultaneously to track the money trail, identify the people handling the fraud proceeds and collect important evidence before it could be destroyed.

The three cases involve huge financial losses. In one case linked to BITS Pilani, a victim was kept under digital arrest for around three months and cheated of Rs 7.67 crore by people posing as police officers. In another case in Gujarat, a victim was digitally detained for three months and allegedly cheated of Rs 19.24 crore by fake police officers. The third case, from Karnataka, involved a victim who was kept under digital arrest for about a month and cheated of Rs 15.45 crore.

During the searches, the CBI seized banking documents, account records, digital devices and other important material. Investigators are now examining the evidence to understand how the wider financial and technological network behind these scams operated across different states.

The CBI also arrested three people during the operation. According to investigators, Akash from Haryana received around Rs 1.95 crore of the fraud money in his bank account. He had opened the account himself and transferred the money to other accounts on the same day, indicating his direct involvement in moving the illegal funds.

Another accused, Raja Karmakar from Kolkata, allegedly received around Rs 1.5 crore of the fraud proceeds in his firm's bank account. Jyoti Rani was also arrested after part of the defrauded money was credited to her account. Investigators said she withdrew some of the money in cash and transferred the rest to other accounts, helping to hide the trail of the funds.

The CBI is now working to identify and arrest other people connected to the wider network. The agency said it remains committed to taking strong action against digital arrest scams and organised cybercrime and bringing all those involved to justice. The investigation is continuing.