Belghoria couple lose Rs 1.5 cr in 16-day digi-arrest fraud case
Times of India | 9 July 2025
Kolkata: Susanta Acharya, a retired central govt officer, and his wife, residents of Belghoria's Shitolatola Street, were manipulated by scammers posing as CBI officers and Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) officals over a spam of more than two weeks, resulting in them losing Rs 1.55 crore. The detective wing of the Barrackpore Commissionerate has registered a case and initiated an investigation.
According to police, the fraudsters threatened the couple with arrest and presented a forged court notice. The fake court order warned that their bank accounts would be blocked and their property seized if they failed to pay up. Family sources said, the couple was first contacted on June 17 by someone claiming to be from TRAI. The caller informed them that they were "digitally arrested" in connection with a financial fraud case that the CBI was investigating.
"Even when using the washroom, we had to stay under video surveillance. We were forbidden from stepping outside or allowing visitors, as the fraudsters threatened us with dire consequences," Acharya, a former railway official, said. "Whenever we needed to go out, we had to seek permission from the fraudsters. Under constant psychological pressure, we eventually transferred Rs 1.55 crore in six installments via Real Time Gross Settlement (RTGS), liquidating our savings, mutual funds, and fixed deposits," Acharya reportedly told police.
The fraudsters also claimed to possess a voice recording of the couple that would be used as evidence against them. To intimidate them, the fraudsters sent a fake court order demanding Rs 1.55 crore, instructing them to deposit the money into a ‘suspense account" linked to the court. The couple was also coerced into sending photos of their Aadhaar cards online. Once the payments were made, the fraudsters disappeared, severing all contact.
Despite their trauma, the couple was initially hesitant to approach the police. Some of their relatives encouraged them to report the crime, after which Acharya lodged a complaint with Belghoria Police Station on Monday. According to the Barrackpore Detective Wing Cyber Cell, a case was initiated after receiving the couple's complaint on Monday.
"The retired central govt officer from Belghoria fell victim to a sophisticated cyber fraud scheme in which scammers posing as senior govt officials extorted Rs 1.55 crore from him over a span of more than two weeks," an investigating officer said. According to his statement to the police, between June 17 and July 3, he was repeatedly contacted by the fraudsters who falsely accused him of involvement in a money laundering case and told him that he was "digitally arrested". "He was allegedly placed under fictitious house arrest and kept under round-the-clock video surveillance by the scammers. Exploiting psychological pressure, they convinced him to transfer funds in multiple installments via RTGS, amounting to Rs 1.55 crore," the official added.
Realising he was duped, Acharya approached the police. "As soon as we received the complaint, a case was registered and taken up by the Detective Department (DD). Legal proceedings are underway to track the fraudsters and recover the money," said Anupam Singh, DCP, South Zone, Barrackpore Commissionerate.
Police have urged citizens to remain vigilant and verify any suspicious phone calls, especially those claiming to be from govt agencies. "Several cases of digital arrest have been reported in the recent past, with victims losing large sums of money. We urge the public to verify the identity of such callers and report any suspicious activity to the police without delay," the DCP said.
Kolkata: Susanta Acharya, a retired central govt officer, and his wife, residents of Belghoria's Shitolatola Street, were manipulated by scammers posing as CBI officers and Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) officals over a spam of more than two weeks, resulting in them losing Rs 1.55 crore. The detective wing of the Barrackpore Commissionerate has registered a case and initiated an investigation.
According to police, the fraudsters threatened the couple with arrest and presented a forged court notice. The fake court order warned that their bank accounts would be blocked and their property seized if they failed to pay up. Family sources said, the couple was first contacted on June 17 by someone claiming to be from TRAI. The caller informed them that they were "digitally arrested" in connection with a financial fraud case that the CBI was investigating.
"Even when using the washroom, we had to stay under video surveillance. We were forbidden from stepping outside or allowing visitors, as the fraudsters threatened us with dire consequences," Acharya, a former railway official, said. "Whenever we needed to go out, we had to seek permission from the fraudsters. Under constant psychological pressure, we eventually transferred Rs 1.55 crore in six installments via Real Time Gross Settlement (RTGS), liquidating our savings, mutual funds, and fixed deposits," Acharya reportedly told police.
The fraudsters also claimed to possess a voice recording of the couple that would be used as evidence against them. To intimidate them, the fraudsters sent a fake court order demanding Rs 1.55 crore, instructing them to deposit the money into a ‘suspense account" linked to the court. The couple was also coerced into sending photos of their Aadhaar cards online. Once the payments were made, the fraudsters disappeared, severing all contact.
Despite their trauma, the couple was initially hesitant to approach the police. Some of their relatives encouraged them to report the crime, after which Acharya lodged a complaint with Belghoria Police Station on Monday. According to the Barrackpore Detective Wing Cyber Cell, a case was initiated after receiving the couple's complaint on Monday.
"The retired central govt officer from Belghoria fell victim to a sophisticated cyber fraud scheme in which scammers posing as senior govt officials extorted Rs 1.55 crore from him over a span of more than two weeks," an investigating officer said. According to his statement to the police, between June 17 and July 3, he was repeatedly contacted by the fraudsters who falsely accused him of involvement in a money laundering case and told him that he was "digitally arrested". "He was allegedly placed under fictitious house arrest and kept under round-the-clock video surveillance by the scammers. Exploiting psychological pressure, they convinced him to transfer funds in multiple installments via RTGS, amounting to Rs 1.55 crore," the official added.
Realising he was duped, Acharya approached the police. "As soon as we received the complaint, a case was registered and taken up by the Detective Department (DD). Legal proceedings are underway to track the fraudsters and recover the money," said Anupam Singh, DCP, South Zone, Barrackpore Commissionerate.
Police have urged citizens to remain vigilant and verify any suspicious phone calls, especially those claiming to be from govt agencies. "Several cases of digital arrest have been reported in the recent past, with victims losing large sums of money. We urge the public to verify the identity of such callers and report any suspicious activity to the police without delay," the DCP said.