ED arrests Kolkata man in ₹7 crore digital arrest scam targeting Ludhiana resident
Synopsis
A Kolkata-based accused has become the third person arrested by the ED in a ₹7 crore 'digital arrest' case where fraudsters posed as CBI officials and a judge to extort a Ludhiana resident. The trail spans Nepal, Cambodia, and Vietnam — with cryptocurrency commissions, shell companies, and encrypted messaging apps at the heart of one of India's most elaborate cyber-extortion networks.
Key Takeaways
The ED arrested Sohel Akhtar alias Raju from Kolkata on 28 September 2026 — the third accused in the ₹7 crore digital arrest case.
Oswal of Ludhiana was extorted after gang members impersonated CBI officials and a judge .
Proceeds were routed through shell firms Rigglo Ventures Private Limited and Frozenman Warehousing and Logistics using an APK app named 'AMMFORWARD' .
The network used Nepal-based associates to access OTPs remotely; commissions were paid in cryptocurrency via Binance to operatives in Cambodia and Vietnam .
ED has so far attached assets worth ₹1.76 crore and filed a charge sheet on 19 February 2026 against five accused and one firm.
Akhtar has been remanded to ED custody until 6 October 2026 ; nine additional FIRs from the same group are part of the investigation.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has arrested Sohel Akhtar alias Raju, a cyber-criminal from Kolkata, in connection with a ₹7 crore 'digital arrest' fraud carried out against a resident of Ludhiana, Punjab. The arrest, made by the ED's Jalandhar Zonal Office following search operations conducted on 28 September 2026 at three locations in West Bengal, marks the third arrest in the case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002.
How the Fraud Was Executed
According to the ED, gang members impersonated officials of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Judiciary to threaten and extort S.P. Oswal, a Ludhiana resident, coercing him into transferring ₹7 crore. An APK application named 'AMMFORWARD' was allegedly used to rapidly route the proceeds of crime through a web of shell companies and mule bank accounts.
The extorted funds were initially credited to accounts of two companies — Rigglo Ventures Private Limited and Frozenman Warehousing and Logistics. These accounts were reportedly controlled by the two previously arrested accused: Rumi Kalita of Guwahati and Arpit Rathore of Kanpur.
Akhtar's Role and International Links
The ED investigation revealed that Akhtar controlled and operated the bank accounts of Rigglo Ventures and played a central role in recruiting individuals to arrange mule bank accounts. Mobile phones preloaded with APK files were used to insert SIM cards linked to these accounts, enabling Nepal-based associates to remotely access OTPs and SMS messages, thereby facilitating the routing of crime proceeds.
Akhtar also allegedly provided mule bank accounts to foreign-based individuals and received commissions in the form of cryptocurrency — credited to his Binance account or those of his associates. Similarly, Rathore had provided mule accounts linked to persons based in Cambodia and Vietnam, also receiving crypto commissions through Binance.
Money Laundering Trail
Investigators found that the proceeds of crime were systematically layered through shell entities and remitted outside India using trade-based money laundering mechanisms. Smaller tranches ranging from ₹2 lakh to ₹5 lakh were transferred into multiple mule bank accounts, with cash immediately withdrawn and subsequently converted into virtual digital assets.
The mule accounts were reportedly opened by inducing economically vulnerable individuals with false promises of loans or employment. End-to-end encrypted private messaging applications were used to share mule account details with foreign associates, the ED said.
Earlier Arrests and Legal Proceedings
The two earlier accused — Rumi Kalita and Arpit Rathore — were arrested on 23 December 2025 and 31 December 2025, respectively. The ED had filed a charge sheet on 19 February 2026 against Kalita, Rathore, Anand Chaudhary, Atanu Chaudhary, and Frozenman Warehousing and Logistics. A provisional attachment order dated 14 February 2026 covered proceeds of crime worth ₹1.76 crore.
Nine additional FIRs related to cybercrime involving digital arrest by the same group have been included in the investigation. Akhtar was produced before the Jalandhar Additional District and Sessions Judge after his arrest and remanded to ED custody until 6 October.
Broader Context
The case is part of a growing wave of 'digital arrest' scams across India, where fraudsters impersonate law enforcement officials to intimidate and extort victims. This is among the largest single-victim digital fraud cases to result in PMLA arrests, and the operation's cross-border cryptocurrency trail — spanning Nepal, Cambodia, Vietnam, and India — underscores the increasingly transnational character of such cybercrime networks. The next hearing for Akhtar is slated for 6 October 2026.
Point of View
Transnational criminal enterprise — and this case illustrates exactly how sophisticated it has become. The use of shell companies, APK-based OTP interception, encrypted messaging, mule accounts sourced by exploiting economically desperate individuals, and cross-border cryptocurrency remittances to Cambodia, Vietnam, and Nepal suggests a level of operational complexity that casual enforcement responses cannot match. The ED's PMLA jurisdiction is the right tool, but with only ₹1.76 crore attached against ₹7 crore extracted from a single victim — and nine more FIRs pending — the recovery rate raises questions. The real accountability test will be whether the foreign-based handlers behind the network are ever reached.
NationPress
1 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a 'digital arrest' scam?
A 'digital arrest' scam is a form of cyber fraud in which criminals impersonate law enforcement officers or judiciary officials — often via video call — and falsely claim the victim is under 'digital arrest' for a fabricated offence. Victims are coerced into transferring large sums of money to avoid supposed legal action. In this case, the gang impersonated CBI officials and a judge to extort ₹7 crore from a Ludhiana resident.
Who is Sohel Akhtar and what was his role in the scam?
Sohel Akhtar, also known as Raju, is a Kolkata-based accused arrested by the ED on 28 September 2026. According to the ED, he controlled the bank accounts of Rigglo Ventures Private Limited and was the principal recruiter of individuals used to arrange mule bank accounts. He also received cryptocurrency commissions for his role in the network.
Who are the other accused arrested in this case?
Two others were arrested earlier: Rumi Kalita of Guwahati on 23 December 2025, and Arpit Rathore of Kanpur on 31 December 2025. A charge sheet was filed on 19 February 2026 against Kalita, Rathore, Anand Chaudhary, Atanu Chaudhary, and Frozenman Warehousing and Logistics.
How did the fraudsters move the extorted money?
The ₹7 crore was initially credited to accounts of Rigglo Ventures Private Limited and Frozenman Warehousing and Logistics. It was then layered through mule bank accounts in tranches of ₹2 lakh to ₹5 lakh, converted into cryptocurrency, and remitted to foreign-based associates in Nepal, Cambodia, and Vietnam using trade-based money laundering and encrypted messaging apps.
What action has the ED taken so far in this case?
The ED has arrested three accused, issued a provisional attachment order on 14 February 2026 covering ₹1.76 crore in proceeds of crime, and filed a charge sheet on 19 February 2026. Nine additional FIRs involving the same group are part of the ongoing investigation. Akhtar has been remanded to ED custody until 6 October 2026.
