States » NorthPosted at: Oct 26 2026 10:35PM


Haryana: Couple duped of Rs 2.13 crore in 'digital arrest' scam

Faridabad, Oct 26 (UNI) A couple was allegedly terrorised through fake Enforcement Directorate and Supreme Court notices into transferring Rs 2.13 crore to cybercriminals, while another resident lost Rs 21.26 lakh after downloading a malicious file disguised as a gas bill update, Faridabad police disclosed on Monday while reporting arrests in a series of cyber fraud, murder, illegal arms, theft and firing cases.
A police official said investigators had arrested another accused in the Rs 2,13,16,000 digital arrest fraud, taking the number of arrests in the case to nine. Two more suspects were arrested in the separate gas connection fraud, in which criminals allegedly gained access to a victim's mobile phone and siphoned off money through three bank transactions.
In the digital arrest case, the official said the victims' ordeal began on January 13 when the complainant's wife received a call from a person impersonating a telecom department official. The caller claimed that a bank account linked to her Aadhaar card was involved in Rs 20 lakh worth of money laundering.
The call was subsequently transferred to individuals posing as Mumbai Crime Branch officials. The fraudsters allegedly kept the couple under continuous video surveillance, prohibited them from leaving their home and checked their movements every two hours to prevent contact with outsiders.
The criminals also sent forged arrest orders in the name of the ED and fabricated Supreme Court communications, directing the couple to transfer their savings into designated accounts for purported verification.
The victims were assured that the entire amount would be returned within 48 to 72 hours. Fearing arrest, they transferred Rs 2,13,16,000 through multiple banking transactions in January. The fraud came to light when the perpetrators became unreachable.
The latest accused, identified as Tejinder Singh, 27, of Ludhiana, was arrested after investigators traced Rs 4.74 lakh of the defrauded money to his bank account.
"The accused worked as a Wi-Fi operator and was among the account holders who received the fraud proceeds. Eight other accused had already been arrested in the case," the police official said.
Tejinder was produced before a court and remanded to judicial custody.
In another case, police arrested Arvind and Arun, both residents of Yamunanagar, for their alleged involvement in a cyber fraud targeting a Sector 7 resident.
The official said the victim received a message on October 4 warning that his Adani gas connection would be disconnected by night unless he contacted a specified number.
After the victim called, the fraudsters allegedly persuaded him to download an application file named ADANI_GAS_Bill_update.apk.
The file compromised his mobile phone, following which Rs 21,26,016 was withdrawn from his bank account through three transactions.
Investigators traced Rs 1.25 lakh of the stolen money to Arun's credit card. According to police, the amount had been transferred through another suspect at Arvind's instance.
Both accused were sent to judicial custody, while efforts continued to identify and arrest others involved in the fraud.
The police official warned that no government agency or court places individuals under digital arrest through video calls.
"There is no provision for 'digital arrest' under Indian law," the spokesperson said, advising people to report such demands immediately to the national cybercrime helpline 1930.
In a separate murder investigation, police detained a suspect within two hours of registering a case involving the strangulation of a 50-year-old taxi driver over a dispute concerning vehicle permit payments.
The victim, identified as Prakash of KLJ Society in Sector 77, was found dead in the driver's seat of a taxi parked along the Sector 77 main road on October 25.
The official said a Crime Branch Central team detained Kundan, a resident of Chandpur, following a complaint filed by the victim's younger brother.
Preliminary investigation revealed that the victim and suspect had known each other for approximately four years and were both taxi operators.
According to police, the two were sitting inside the vehicle during the night of October 24-25 when an argument erupted over money relating to a taxi permit.
Kundan allegedly strangled Prakash with a towel kept inside the vehicle before fleeing the scene. Police said further interrogation and legal proceedings were underway.
Police also arrested Dipanshu, a resident of Uncha Gaon in Ballabhgarh, in connection with a firing incident following a parking dispute near Badauli Mor during the night of September 23-24.
According to the official, the complainant, a Sector 75 resident, alleged that occupants of a Verna car pursued his vehicle after an argument over parking and opened fire.
Investigators said Dipanshu was present in the pursuing vehicle, while another suspect, identified as Chetan alias Chintu, allegedly fired at the complainant's car.
Dipanshu was placed on two days' police remand, and efforts were continuing to arrest the remaining suspects.
In another operation, the AVTS Bhupani Crime Branch arrested Aman, a resident of NIT-5, near the Sector 29 bypass and recovered a country-made pistol.
The official said the accused had allegedly purchased the weapon from Aligarh in Uttar Pradesh for Rs 3,000 to show off. Police said he had previously faced cases under excise and narcotics laws.
Separately, the Uncha Gaon Crime Branch arrested Amit of Trikha Colony, Ballabhgarh, for allegedly stealing copper pipes from air-conditioning units installed at 11 shops in Ranjit Market.
Police recovered 24 copper pipes and said the thefts had been committed during the night of September 19-20 with the assistance of another person. The accused was sent to judicial custody.
In a separate crackdown on illegal firecracker sales, police seized 265.264 kg of prohibited firecrackers in three operations.
Crime Branch Border arrested Kapil Verma of New Janta Colony with 125.964 kg of firecrackers allegedly being transported for illegal sale in a vehicle.
Crime Branch DLF detained Narendra of Old Faridabad with 104.300 kg from Baselwa Colony, while the Sector 48 Crime Branch arrested Mohit Mathur of Ghaziabad and recovered another 35 kg near the Sector 48 market.
The official said legal action had been initiated against all three suspects.
Police urged residents to report suspicious activity and warned against downloading unfamiliar mobile applications or transferring money in response to threats of arrest, utility disconnection or supposed investigations by government agencies.
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Tags: #Haryana: Couple duped of Rs 2.13 crore in 'digital arrest' scam
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