Bhubaneswar: Cyber Crime and Economic Offence wing of Commissionerate Police in Bhubaneswar have arrested a key suspect in an alleged “digital arrest” scam that defrauded a local woman of Rs 30 lakh, highlighting the persistent threat of inter-state cyber fraud networks preying on unsuspecting citizens through impersonation and intimidation.
The arrested has been identified as G Chiranjeevi, a resident of Tirupati in Andhra Pradesh. He is believed to be a member of a larger syndicate involved in such crimes. Two mobile phones, an ATM card, one cheque book, a PAN card and an Aadhaar card were seized from his possession.
According to police sources, the woman, a resident of the Lingaraj Gauri Nagar area, received a call from an unknown number on November 6, 2025. The caller, posing as an official from the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), falsely claimed that her SIM card was linked to various criminal activities. To heighten the deception, the fraudster transferred the call to someone purporting to be from Mumbai’s Colaba police station. Subsequently, the woman was placed on a video call where the scammers displayed forged documents resembling an arrest warrant. They escalated threats by claiming the matter would be handed over to the Enforcement Directorate (ED), warning of immediate arrest and severe legal repercussions unless she cooperated fully.
The perpetrators convinced the victim that she was under “digital arrest”, a tactic where victims are kept isolated on prolonged calls or video sessions, barred from consulting family, friends, or local police. The callers used official jargon to lend credibility to their claims, forged a sense of urgency, and instilled intense fear.
Fearing legal action, the woman went to an SBI branch on Lewis Road and transferred Rs 30 lakh to three different bank accounts provided by the fraudster.
The scam came to the fore when the victim realised she had been tricked and immediately reported the matter to the Cyber police station in Bhubaneswar. Investigators traced the money trail through banking records and technical intelligence, uncovering links to an inter-state operation. This led to Chiranjeevi’s arrest.
Police emphasised that efforts are underway to apprehend his accomplices, freeze linked accounts, and recover the stolen amount.
Officials also urged the public to exercise extreme caution against unsolicited calls claiming legal threats. Citizens have been advised never to transfer money based on such demands and to immediately verify any alleged police or agency action by contacting local authorities directly.
