Central Bureau of Investigation Launches Nationwide Operation Against Digital Arrest Scams The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has executed coordinated searches at 89 locations across 20 states as part of Operation Chakra-VI, targeting three major “digital arrest” scam cases. The operation, conducted on September 4, 2026, resulted in the arrest of three individuals and the seizure of critical evidence to dismantle the syndicates behind the frauds. The agency emphasized that the operations were based on meticulous financial and technical analysis, including the examination of bank accounts and online access data. The searches aimed to trace the proceeds of fraud, identify beneficiaries, and uncover the handlers of the criminal networks. One of the cases involved a victim at BITS Pilani, who was subjected to a “digital arrest” for three months. Scammers posing as police officers extorted ₹7.67 crore from him. In another instance, a resident of Gujarat was similarly tricked into believing he had been digitally arrested, leading to the loss of ₹19.24 crore over three months. A third case in Karnataka saw a victim forced to pay ₹15.45 crore within a month. The CBI reported that the searches uncovered incriminating banking documents, account records, digital devices, and other evidence. These materials are now being analyzed to dismantle the financial and technological infrastructure supporting the cross-state “digital arrest” syndicates. During the operation, three individuals were arrested. Their roles in the fraud were revealed through forensic examination. Akash, a Haryana resident, received ₹1.95 crore into his account, which he promptly transferred to other accounts, establishing his direct involvement in laundering the proceeds. Raja Karmakar of Kolkata was found to have received ₹1.#karnataka #gujarat #central_bureau_of_investigation #bits_pilani #operation_chakra_vi
