Senior Citizen Duped Through Fake Law Enforcement Calls; Probe Uncovers Alleged Banking Nexus in Transnational Cybercrime Network
New Delhi, Aug 05 :
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has filed a comprehensive charge sheet against a Deputy Manager of Axis Bank and the proprietor of a Kashmir-based private firm in connection with a high-profile ₹1.6 crore “digital arrest” cyber fraud that targeted a senior citizen in Delhi.
According to an official statement issued on Wednesday, the accused have been identified as Umer Iqbal, proprietor of M/s Himalayan Enterprises, Pulwama, and Umer Ahmad Dar, Deputy Manager with Axis Bank.
The investigation revealed that the victim was deceived by cyber fraudsters posing as senior law enforcement and judicial officials. Through a series of video calls, the victim was falsely informed that she was under investigation and was coerced into transferring ₹1.6 crore under the pretext of a so-called “digital arrest.”
The case was originally investigated by the Delhi Police before being transferred to the CBI by the Supreme Court. The agency formally registered the case in January 2026 and launched a detailed investigation into the nationwide cyber fraud.
During the probe, the CBI arrested the proprietor of the Pulwama-based firm after discovering that the company’s bank account had allegedly been used to receive the proceeds of the fraud.
Investigators further found that a portion of the defrauded money was allegedly paid to the Axis Bank Deputy Manager for facilitating the illegal diversion and withdrawal of funds, exposing what the agency described as a serious breach of banking integrity.
The CBI said the fraud was allegedly orchestrated by a sophisticated transnational organised criminal syndicate operating from South-East Asia, with financial channels in India being used to launder the proceeds of crime.
The charge sheet has been filed under multiple provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including criminal conspiracy, cheating, receiving stolen property, and use of forged documents. The accused have also been booked under relevant sections of the Information Technology Act for cyber impersonation and online cheating, besides provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act for bribery-related offences.
Reaffirming its resolve to crack down on cyber-enabled financial crimes, the CBI said stringent legal action would be taken against individuals and institutions found facilitating cyber fraud through misuse of banking or telecom infrastructure.
The agency also issued a strong public advisory urging citizens to stay alert against fake “digital arrest” scams and impersonation calls made in the name of police, courts, CBI or other government agencies.
Clarifying that there is no legal concept of a “digital arrest” in India, the CBI advised the public not to panic or transfer money on the basis of such fraudulent threats and appealed to citizens to immediately report suspicious cyber activities through the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal or the nearest law enforcement agency.(KNC)