‘Threat to daughter’ in Delhi: Couple loses 65L in e-arrest
Times of India | 30 December 2025
Kolkata: An elderly couple from Dum Dum's Nagerbazar fell victim to a "digital arrest" scam, losing nearly Rs 65 lakh after cyber fraudsters posing as central investigating agencies held them under virtual surveillance.
The victims — a 75-year-old retired court clerk, and his wife, a former schoolteacher — were allegedly intimidated for over two weeks by scammers who claimed they were under investigation by the Enforcement Directorate (ED), the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI).
According to police, the couple, residents of Kazipara in Nagerbazar, were coerced into breaking their fixed deposits and liquidating their lifetime savings. When the funds ran out, the fraudsters allegedly forced them to sell the woman's gold jewellery, threatening to arrest their daughter, who lives in Delhi, if more money was not paid.
The couple remained confined to their home and approached the Nagerbazar police only on Sunday — nearly a month after it all started. The detective wing of the Barrackpore Police Commissionerate registered a case and initiated an investigation.
"We were coerced into transferring our lifetime savings after being trapped in an elaborate deception. Not only did we break our fixed deposits and transfer large sums, we were also forced to sell my wife's gold jewellery. The fraudsters even threatened to arrest our daughter to extract more money," the man reportedly told police.
He further alleged that they were kept under constant WhatsApp video surveillance. "Even when using the washroom, we had to stay on video call. We were forbidden from stepping outside or allowing visitors and had to seek permission whenever we needed to go out," he said. Under sustained psychological pressure, the couple transferred Rs 64,87,205 in seven instalments via RTGS, liquidating fixed deposits, mutual funds and savings.
A senior officer of the Barrackpore Commissionerate said the ordeal began on Nov 7, when the man received a call from a person claiming to be an ED officer. The caller alleged that the couple's Aadhaar and mobile numbers were used in illegal financial transactions involving crores of rupees and that arrest warrants were already issued.
"To bolster the deception, the scammers sent forged documents bearing fake ED logos and seals to the victim's phone and later shared counterfeit Supreme Court orders and charge sheets carrying bogus CBI stamps. Citing the couple's age, they claimed the duo would not be taken to a police station immediately and were instead being placed under ‘house arrest'," the official said.
The fraudsters then demanded money in the name of "cooperation" with the probe, describing it as a refundable security deposit. When the couple exhausted their savings, threats were allegedly issued to arrest their daughter in Delhi, forcing them to sell jewellery and send additional funds.
"The calls abruptly stopped on Nov 29. On Dec 28, the couple finally lodged a written complaint at Nagerbazar PS," an investigating officer said, adding that several recipient bank accounts were suspected to have foreign links.
The incident triggered widespread concern in the locality, amid a spate of similar "digital arrest" scams reported recently from Dum Dum, North Dum Dum and Belgharia, with senior citizens emerging as primary targets. Police said further investigation was underway.