Ex-Jaipur Judge Loses Rs 2.5 Crore in Digital Arrest Scam
A 90-year-old retired Jaipur district judge was defrauded of Rs 2.5 crore by individuals posing as CBI and RBI officials. The fraudsters subjected him to a 15-day "digital arrest" to extract funds.
Key takeaways
- A 90-year-old former district judge in Jaipur lost Rs 2.5 crore in a sophisticated cyber fraud.
- Scammers posed as CBI officials and an RBI manager, holding the judge under a 15-day "digital arrest."
- The fraud was uncovered when a bank manager became suspicious of a transaction and alerted the victim.
- Police have registered a case and are investigating the incident under IT and legal statutes.
Authorities are investigating a cyber fraud case where a 90-year-old former district judge in Jaipur was tricked into transferring Rs 2.5 crore to fraudsters. The incident occurred after the judge was subjected to a prolonged period of what police are calling a "digital arrest" lasting approximately 15 days.
What Happened
The scam began on July 28 when the former judge, Ganpat Singh Bhandari, received a WhatsApp video call from someone claiming to be a CBI officer from Mumbai. The caller alleged that Bhandari's bank account was linked to a Rs 50 crore hawala transaction and that Rs 40 lakh had been credited to his account. The fraudster threatened arrest and warned Bhandari against informing anyone.
Subsequently, another individual, posing as an RBI manager, contacted Bhandari via WhatsApp. This person claimed that money associated with the hawala transaction had been invested in mutual funds and requested Bhandari's financial details. Bhandari provided information about his mutual funds and other financial documents.
Over the period from August 3 to August 10, the fraudsters instructed Bhandari to transfer a total of Rs 2.5 crore from his SBI account in Gandhi Nagar to various bank accounts, ostensibly to aid in the investigation. The accused reportedly instructed Bhandari to delete communication records after each interaction, hindering his ability to contact family or authorities.
The fraud came to light when Bhandari attempted to transfer money from his Public Provident Fund (PPF) account at an SBI branch on Wednesday. The bank manager became suspicious of the transaction and Bhandari's account of events. After being informed he might be a victim of cyber fraud, Bhandari contacted his nephew, who then filed a police complaint.
A case has been registered at Jaipur's Jyoti Nagar police station under sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Information Technology Act. Police are continuing their investigation.
Key Facts
- A 90-year-old ex-district judge from Jaipur was targeted by fraudsters.
- The victim was duped of Rs 2.5 crore.
- Fraudsters posed as CBI officials and an RBI manager.
- The judge was kept under "digital arrest" for approximately 15 days.
- The money was transferred from the victim's SBI account between August 3 and August 10.
- An SBI bank manager stopped a further transaction, alerting the victim to the fraud.
- A case was registered at Jyoti Nagar police station in Jaipur.
Sources reviewed
Project Chintan independently synthesized and analyzed information cross-checked across the sources listed above.
Related stories
Kejriwal, Sisodia Ask Delhi HC to Reject CBI's Challenge to Discharge in Liquor Case
Retired Judge, 90, Scammed Out of ₹2.5 Crore in Digital Arrest Fraud
Kejriwal, Sisodia seek dismissal of CBI appeal in Delhi excise policy case