Retired Delhi banker falls prey to digital arrest, loses Rs 23 crore

A 73-year-old retired banker in Delhi has become the latest victim of what investigators are calling one of the country’s biggest cyber fraud cases, losing Rs 23 crore to scammers who tricked him into believing he was under police investigation, the Times of India reported on September 23.

The incident unfolded in August when the resident of Gulmohar Park, a quiet neighbourhood in south Delhi, received a call from someone posing as a senior officer at the Mumbai Police Headquarters. The caller introduced himself as Pradeep Sawant and claimed that the banker was a suspect in a financial crime, ToI's report (by Abhay) said.

What followed was a month-long psychological ordeal in which the victim was virtually “arrested” inside his own home.


According to investigators, the scammers imposed a strict daily reporting schedule on the man, requiring him to share the minutiae of his life, including meal times, physiotherapy appointments and visits to his daughter’s house. Each activity had to be logged, and any request to deviate from the timetable needed approval from the fraudsters.

Chats recovered by police show the banker pleading for minor adjustments when he wanted to attend condolence meetings or see his grandson.

The manipulation relied heavily on fear. The victim was repeatedly told he was under surveillance by the Central Bureau of Investigation and that non-compliance could result in immediate arrest. Gradually, under the weight of constant intimidation, he began transferring his savings into multiple accounts controlled by the fraudsters.

By the time the deception was uncovered, he had lost as much as Rs 23 crore.

The police have registered a case and say efforts are underway to trace the scammers and recover the stolen funds. Cybercrime units are also examining whether the fraud is part of a larger network targeting senior citizens across India, who are often isolated and more vulnerable to coercion.