New Delhi: The Cyber Police Station, South-West District, Delhi Police, has busted an inter-state cyber-fraud network allegedly involved in “digital arrest” scams and arrested four accused from Punjab and Rajasthan.
The arrests were made during an investigation into the alleged cheating of a retired Indian Army Colonel, who was duped of Rs 15.50 lakh. Police recovered four smartphones and six SIM cards allegedly used in the crime.
According to police, the retired Colonel, a resident of Munirka Enclave, approached the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal after receiving a suspicious call on April 15, 2026. The caller allegedly claimed that his mobile connection would be disconnected on the orders of Maharashtra Police
The fraudsters allegedly posed as government officials and accused the victim of involvement in money laundering, investment fraud and terrorist financing. They reportedly sent fake documents bearing the names of the Enforcement Directorate, courts, Bombay High Court and RBI.
The victim and his wife were allegedly subjected to prolonged “digital arrest”, following which the Colonel transferred Rs 15.50 lakh to accounts controlled by the fraudsters.
An E-FIR No. 165/26 was registered on April 19, 2026, at PS Cyber, South-West District, under Sections 308, 318(4), 319 and 340 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
During the investigation, police traced the money to a Ludhiana bank account allegedly belonging to Sarbjit, who reportedly passed the funds to Suraj through Sandeep, a bank employee. Suraj allegedly transferred the money to Naresh alias Lucky through Telegram.
Police said the accused later travelled to Jaipur to hand over the bank account kit. Naresh was subsequently arrested in Rajasthan.
According to police, Naresh allegedly admitted to procuring bank accounts through Telegram and supplying them to cyber-fraud operators operating from Cambodia and the UAE/Dubai.
Police further said the bank account was linked to 17 complaints across several States and Union Territories, involving transactions worth crores of rupees.
The arrested accused have been identified as Sarbjit (38), Suraj (30) and Sandeep (32), all residents of Ludhiana, and Naresh alias Lucky of Sikar, Rajasthan.
Further investigation is underway to identify other members of the network and trace the remaining money trail.