Retired doctor in Kalaburagi cheated of ₹1.26 crore in ‘digital arrest’ scam

A retired doctor in Kalaburagi is said to have been cheated of ₹1,26,74,047 by cyber fraudsters who threatened him with “digital arrest” after impersonating as Mumbai Crime Branch officials.

The victim, Shivasharanappa Biradar, a resident of Gunj area on Humnabad Ring Road, was targeted through WhatsApp calls, according to a complaint filed by his wife, Usha Biradar, at the Cyber, Economic and Narcotics Police Station.

As per the complaint, one of the fraudsters, who identified himself as Pradeep Kumar from the Mumbai Crime Branch, said that there is a Canara Bank account in Dr. Biradar’s name in Mumbai and linked it to a money laundering case involving Naresh Goyal.

He further said that ₹2 crore was found deposited in the account and warned the doctor of imminent legal action.

Though Dr. Biradar denied having any such bank account, the accused continued to intimidate him through frequent WhatsApp video and audio calls.

Under the pretext of an online investigation and by threatening “digital arrest”, the accused obtained copies of the doctor’s Aadhaar and PAN card and coerced him into transferring money.

The doctor transferred the amount in phases to multiple bank accounts between November 8 and December 10, resulting in a total loss of over ₹1.26 crore.

The police, who have registered a case, have launched investigation to trace the accused and the money.