An intricate scheme involving a fraudster impersonating Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, a fake virtual courtroom, and forged documents closely resembling official ones led to the defrauding of Vardhman Group head SP Oswal for ₹7 crore.
Oswal, the 82-year-old chairman and managing director of the textile manufacturing company, was subjected to "digital arrest" on August 28 and 29, during which he was coerced into transferring ₹7 crore into multiple accounts. Law enforcement has since frozen these accounts and managed to recover over ₹5 crore.
The Initial Contact
The scam began on September 28 (Saturday) when Oswal received a phone call. The caller threatened to disconnect his phone unless he pressed the button '9'. Upon compliance, a voice claiming to be from CBI's Colaba office mentioned a mobile phone number in Oswal's name, alleging someone had obtained the connection by misrepresenting him.
False Accusations and Intimidation
The scammers, connecting via video call, claimed an account in Oswal's name was involved in financial irregularities linked to the case against Naresh Goyal, former chairman of Jet Airways. They informed Oswal he was a suspect and that an account had been opened using his Aadhaar details.
The fraudsters assured Oswal they would try to protect him and requested his full cooperation, which gave him some confidence in their legitimacy.
"Digital Arrest" and Surveillance
The scammers introduced a man identifying himself as Rahul Gupta, the chief investigating officer. They sent Oswal rules of surveillance and instructed him to write a letter requesting a priority investigation.
Oswal was placed under constant video surveillance and told he could not discuss the matter with anyone, citing the National Secrets Act and threatening jail time for non-compliance.
Elaborate Deception
The fraudsters posed as probe agency officials in civil dress, wearing ID cards. They showed Oswal a fake courtroom where a man impersonating Chief Justice DY Chandrachud appeared to hear his case and issue an order. This forged order was then sent to Oswal via WhatsApp, after which he was instructed to deposit ₹7 crore into separate accounts.
The scammers produced convincing fake documents, including an arrest warrant with official-looking stamps and a Supreme Court order with forged elements such as revenue stamps, court stamps, and digital signatures.
Police Investigation and Arrests
Law enforcement registered a case on August 31 following Oswal's complaint. With assistance from the cybercrime coordination center under the Union Home Ministry, three accounts were frozen, allowing the recovery of ₹5.25 crore - the largest recovery in such a case in India to date.
Two suspects, Atanu Chowdhury and Anand Kumar, have been arrested in Guwahati, Assam. Police are now pursuing other accused individuals, including the alleged mastermind and former bank employee, Rumi Kalita.
Understanding "Digital Arrest" Scams
"Digital arrest" is a new type of fraud where scammers claim the target is under "digital" or "virtual" arrest, requiring them to remain connected via video call. The victim is isolated and manipulated until money is transferred to the fraudsters' accounts.
Law enforcement has repeatedly emphasized that "digital arrest" and "virtual arrest" do not exist, urging the public to be vigilant against such scams.
