Bilaspur retired professor duped of ₹1.04 crore in 7-day 'digital arrest' ordeal

A retired college professor in Bilaspur was swindled of over ₹1 crore after cybercriminals kept her under 'digital arrest' for a week, using threats of terror funding charges and harm to her family.

In a chilling case of cyber fraud that underscores the rising vulnerability of senior citizens to digital scams, an 82-year-old retired professor in Bilaspur’s Civil Lines area was defrauded of ₹1.04 crore. The victim, Raman Srivastava, who previously served at DP College, was kept under "digital arrest" for seven days by fraudsters posing as law enforcement officers.

The scammers allegedly used sophisticated psychological pressure, sending forged documents from the Supreme Court and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to convince the victim she was embroiled in a terror funding investigation linked to the banned Popular Front of India (PFI).

The initial hook and intimidation

The ordeal began on the morning of April 20, when Prof. Srivastava received a WhatsApp video call from an unknown number. The caller identified himself as ‘Sanjay PSI’ and immediately began interrogating her. According to the police complaint, the fraudster claimed that her bank accounts were being used for money laundering and terror activities.

To solidify the fear, the criminals kept her on a video call for over two hours initially, forbidding her from disconnecting or contacting anyone. They presented fake bank statements and debit cards in her name, claiming her phone was being monitored.

A week of psychological captivity

Between April 20 and April 27, the retired professor did not step out of her house in the Real Heaven colony. The scammers told her that a specialized team was stationed near her residence to arrest her if she attempted to flee or alert the authorities.

"The victim was in such a state of panic that she believed her every move was being watched," a source familiar with the investigation said. Under this immense pressure, she followed the instructions to "clear her name" by transferring funds into what she was told were "government-verified" accounts for auditing.

Staggered transfers of life savings

The financial exploitation happened in phases as the victim desperately tried to avoid jail time. On April 21, she transferred ₹20 lakh, followed by ₹34.20 lakh the next day. By April 24, she had made four major transfers totaling ₹1,04,80,000.

Local authorities confirmed that the victim exhausted almost her entire life savings during this period. The scammers even threatened that if she failed to cooperate, her son—a director at an HR consultancy in Mumbai—and her grandson would also be arrested and jailed.

How the scam was exposed

The fraud came to light on April 27 when the criminals, unsatisfied with the initial haul, sent a fake ED warrant cancellation letter and demanded an additional ₹50 lakh to "permanently close" the case. With her accounts empty, Prof. Srivastava called her son, Prashant, in Mumbai, pleading for the money and crying that she would be sent to jail otherwise.

Sensing something was wrong, Prashant immediately flew to Bilaspur. Upon hearing the details, he realized his mother had been a victim of a "digital arrest" scam and reported the matter to the Range Cyber Police Station.

Rising trend of digital arrests

The Range Cyber Police have registered a case under relevant sections of the IT Act and the Indian Penal Code. Officials noted that this is not an isolated incident. Between December 2025 and early 2026, Bilaspur has seen a sharp 30-40% increase in digital arrest complaints.

Earlier this year, a local businessman was duped of ₹57 lakh using a similar modus operandi involving money laundering threats. In another case in Raipur, a retired veterinary doctor lost ₹1.28 crore after being intimidated by individuals posing as Mumbai Crime Branch officers.

Police have urged citizens, especially the elderly, to remember that no government agency—be it the Police, CBI, or ED—conducts arrests or investigations via WhatsApp video calls or demands money to "settle" criminal cases.

In a significant blow to cybercrime networks, Madhya Pradesh police have dismantled a notorious Shivpuri cyber gang involved in digital arrest fraud. The operation, dubbed "Operation Matrix," exposed a sophisticated blackmail scheme that defrauded victims across India of over ₹2.5 crore through fake threats and obscene video calls. This bust comes amid a surge in online scams, highlighting the urgent need for digital vigilance in an era of increasing app-based interactions.

The gang's modus operandi was chillingly effective. Posing as attractive women on platforms like WhatsApp, they lured victims into explicit video calls via apps such as HIIU, TOKKI, MIKA, ELOELO, GAGA, HANI, SUGO, COMMECTO, HITSU, HONEY, and COMET—often downloaded as APK files. These calls were secretly recorded, then used to extort money by impersonating police officers. Victims were told they were under "digital arrest" for alleged crimes like rape or child pornography, forcing them to transfer funds out of fear and shame.

Massive Seizures and Arrests

Police arrested 20 out of 32 identified suspects, including two women, while 12 remain at large. Raids across Shivpuri district, led by Superintendent Aman Singh Rathore, yielded property worth ₹1.07 crore. Seized items include:

- Seven cars and one motorcycle

- 29 mobile phones and 16 ATM cards

- Seven bank passbooks and ₹1.20 lakh in cash

- A luxury house built with fraud proceeds, along with its registry

This haul underscores the gang's lavish lifestyle funded by victims' misery. "These criminals exploited trust in digital platforms to create terror," Rathore told reporters, emphasizing the role of special teams from multiple police stations in the crackdown.

 Why This Matters Now

With cyber fraud cases rising 24% in India last year, according to the National Crime Records Bureau, this Shivpuri cyber gang bust is timely. It aligns with national efforts like the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre's awareness campaigns against online blackmail. Experts warn that post-pandemic reliance on chatting apps has made such scams rampant, targeting vulnerable users seeking connections online.

Simulated insights from cybersecurity analyst Dr. Priya Sharma highlight the psychological tactics: "Scammers prey on embarrassment, making victims pay up without verification. This case shows how unregulated apps become breeding grounds for crime."

 Practical Takeaways for Readers

To avoid falling victim to digital arrest fraud:

- Never accept video calls or chats from unknown contacts.

- Verify any "police" claims by calling official helplines like 1930 for cybercrimes.

- Report suspicious activity immediately to your local station or via the government's cyber portal.

- Use app stores for downloads, avoiding APK files that bypass security.

Madhya Pradesh police urge caution on social media, stressing that no legitimate authority imposes "digital arrest" via calls.

This breakthrough in Shivpuri not only recovers assets but also sends a strong message to cybercriminals. As investigations continue, it reinforces the importance of collective awareness in combating online threats. Stay alert—your digital safety depends on it.