CBI raids 80 locations in 16 states in crackdown on digital arrest scams

New Delhi: In a crackdown on the cybercrime infrastructure facilitating digital arrest scams, CBI conducted searches at over 80 locations in 16 states, the agency said in a statement on Thursday.

The agency, under Operation Chakra-VI, constituted 60 special teams and conducted coordinated searches across 16 states - Punjab, Gujarat, Delhi, Maharashtra, Haryana, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Assam, West Bengal, Manipur, Karnataka and Odisha.

"The searches were carried out as part of an ongoing investigation aimed at dismantling a targeted operational network involved in over 200 cases of digital arrest scams. The agency arrested two persons from Chennai and Kolkata for their alleged involvement in incorporating shell companies and opening and operating mule bank accounts. These accounts were reportedly used for laundering approximately ₹2 crore of suspected proceeds of crime," CBI said in its statement. The two arrested are B Naresh, a resident of Chennai and Sanjib Saha, a resident of Kolkata.


CBI stated that it recently unearthed a fraudulent website bearing a URL deceptively similar to the official website of the Supreme Court of India. "The fraudsters allegedly used this fraudulently registered domain to deceive victims under the guise of digital arrest. Based on a complaint received from the Registry of the Supreme Court of India, CBI registered an FIR and commenced an investigation into the matter," the statement adds.

Leveraging advanced forensic tools and technical expertise, CBI identified critical elements of the criminal infrastructure operating within India and abroad, the agency said.

Its investigation revealed that the perpetrators uploaded forged and fabricated documents, including fake orders resembling those issued by courts and various law enforcement agencies, to lend credibility to their fraudulent activities.

CBI claims to have seized several incriminating documents, digital devices, mobile phones and records relating to bank transactions. The seized materials are being subjected to detailed forensic examination and analysis.