The Sampadak Express News Desk
A 72-year-old retired officer in Belagavi lost ₹42.40 lakh to a “digital arrest” scam carried out over seven days from October 3 to 9, after callers posing as Central Bureau of Investigation personnel coerced him into transferring money to multiple bank accounts, according to police.
The fraud began on October 3 with a phone call during which the caller first elicited details about the victim’s family, then switched to a WhatsApp video call. The caller identified himself as “Vijay Kanha,” an IPS officer with the CBI, and accused the man of involvement in serious crimes, including circulating objectionable videos from his mobile number and money laundering linked to his bank account.
Threatened with arrest, the victim complied with instructions and moved a total of ₹42.40 lakh into different accounts over the week, police said.
Following a complaint, the Cyber Crime, Economic Offences and Narcotics (CEN) Police in Belagavi registered a First Information Report. An investigation is under way.
