Retired Judge Duped in Digital Arrest Scam, Loses ₹1.66 Crore to Cyber Fraudsters in Hyderabad

A 73-year-old retired district judge in Hyderabad fell victim to a sophisticated digital arrest cyber scam, where fraudsters posing as CBI officials threatened him with a fake money-laundering investigation and a non-bailable Supreme Court warrant. Using intimidation and forged documents during WhatsApp video calls, the scammers convinced the victim to transfer ₹1.66 crore across multiple transactions. The case has now been registered by the Malkajgiri Cybercrime Police under several sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the IT Act.

Cyber Crime Mar 8, 2026 0 4 Add to Reading List

Retired Judge Duped in Digital Arrest Scam, Loses ₹1.66 Crore to Cyber Fraudsters in Hyderabad

Retired Judge Duped in ‘Digital Arrest’ Cyber Fraud, Loses ₹1.66 Crore

Hyderabad: In a shocking case of cyber fraud, a 73-year-old retired district judge from Neredmet, Hyderabad, was deceived by scammers posing as officials from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The fraudsters threatened the victim with arrest in a fabricated money-laundering investigation and ultimately convinced him to transfer ₹1.66 crore to multiple bank accounts.

The case came to light after the victim filed a complaint with the Malkajgiri Cybercrime Police, who registered a “digital arrest” scam case on Friday.

How the Fraud Began

The incident began on February 23, when the retired judge received a phone call from a man claiming to be Senior CBI Officer Deepak Kumar. The caller alleged that two mobile numbers linked to the victim’s Aadhaar were being used to make objectionable calls to women, and that an FIR had been registered at Indiranagar Police Station in Bengaluru.

Soon after, another fraudster joined the call, introducing himself as Circle Inspector Gourav Saradhi. He escalated the accusations by claiming that the victim was also implicated in a human-trafficking case.

The scammers further asserted that a non-bailable warrant had been issued by the Supreme Court of India, intensifying the pressure on the victim.

Psychological Pressure and Fake Evidence

The impostors instructed the victim to draft a written statement claiming that his Aadhaar had been misused. They also warned him not to discuss the matter with anyone, including family members or friends, a common tactic used in sophisticated cyber scams.

The intimidation increased when a woman posing as Senior CBI Officer Archana Ramasundaram contacted the victim through a WhatsApp video call. During the call, she displayed a document carrying the Supreme Court emblem, which appeared convincing to the victim.

The fraudsters accused him of money laundering, human trafficking, and identity theft, and demanded details of his bank accounts for what they described as a “financial assessment.” They assured him that the money would be refunded after the inquiry was completed.

Money Transfers Made by the Victim

Fearing arrest and potential damage to his reputation, the retired judge complied with their instructions. Between February 25 and March 2, he transferred a total of ₹1.66 crore from three separate bank accounts in four transactions to accounts provided by the fraudsters.

Transaction Timeline

Date	Action Taken	Amount
Feb 25	First transfer initiated	Part of ₹1.66 crore
Feb 26–28	Additional transactions	Multiple transfers
Mar 2	Final transfer completed	Remaining amount
After Mar 2	No refund received	Fraud suspected

Realization and Police Complaint

When the promised refund did not materialize, the victim eventually confided in friends and realized he had fallen victim to a cybercrime scam. He then approached the Malkajgiri Cybercrime Police, who registered a case and launched an investigation.

Authorities confirmed that the case involves impersonation of law-enforcement officials, online intimidation, and financial extortion.

Legal Provisions Invoked

Police registered the case under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Information Technology Act, including:

Section 316(2) – Criminal Conspiracy
Section 318(4) – Cheating
Section 319(2) – Cheating by Personation
Section 338 – Forgery of Valuable Security
Section 308(2) – Extortion

Additionally, under the Information Technology Act:

Section 66C – Identity Theft
Section 66D – Cheating by Personation using Computer Resources

Rising Threat of Digital Arrest Scams

Cybersecurity experts warn that digital arrest scams are rapidly increasing in India. In these schemes, fraudsters impersonate law-enforcement agencies and use fake warrants, forged documents, and video calls to intimidate victims and extract money.

Authorities emphasize that no legitimate investigative agency demands money transfers during an investigation or conducts official proceedings through WhatsApp calls.

Conclusion:
This incident highlights the growing sophistication of cybercriminals and underscores the urgent need for public awareness and digital vigilance to prevent such scams.