A 64-year-old woman from Bhopal was allegedly duped of Rs 25.65 lakh in a sophisticated cyber fraud case involving a so-called “digital arrest” tactic, officials said.
The case, first registered by the Bhopal Cyber Police in November 2025, has now escalated significantly after the Supreme Court took suo moto cognisance and directed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to probe the matter. An FIR has since been filed by the agency.
According to the complaint, the accused contacted the woman through a WhatsApp call, posing as officials from the Internal Security Department and the Counter-Terrorism Department. They allegedly claimed she was under investigation in a serious national security case, creating an atmosphere of fear and urgency.
Investigators said the victim was subjected to sustained psychological pressure and kept under what the fraudsters described as “digital arrest”, a method where individuals are virtually confined, monitored, and coerced without any physical interaction. Under this pressure, she was convinced to transfer large sums of money, believing it was part of a legal verification process.
Officials now suspect that the case may be part of a larger, organised cybercrime network. The CBI is expected to examine digital trails, identify the individuals involved, and probe potential interstate and international links.
Authorities warn that such “digital arrest” scams are an emerging threat, particularly targeting vulnerable individuals by exploiting fear and impersonating law enforcement agencies.
