In Jalandhar, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has apprehended the ringleader behind a fraudulent scheme involving a staggering Rs 7 crore, which specifically targeted a resident of Ludhiana. This operation, carried out with the assistance of overseas accomplices, involved impersonating CBI officers. The ED has commenced investigations into multiple similar offenses, according to an official announcement made on Friday.

The Jalandhar Zonal Office of the ED was authorized by the Special Court (PMLA) to detain the primary suspect, Arpit Rathore, until January 5. The ED disclosed this information in a press release.

On December 31, 2025, the ED executed a raid at Rathore's premises, resulting in his arrest during an inquiry into a money laundering case linked to the digital extortion of S. P. Oswal, as stated by the official.

Evidence has emerged that Rathore was instrumental not just in Oswal's digital extortion but also in a series of other cybercrimes targeting unsuspecting individuals.

Rathore maintained communications with international partners to facilitate these illegal activities, providing them with mule accounts and aiding in the transfer of illicit funds to overseas locations.

During the searches conducted under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, the ED confiscated incriminating documents, digital devices, and cash totaling Rs 14 lakh.

The inquiry began following an FIR lodged by the Cyber Crime Police Station in Ludhiana, documented under BNSS, 2023. An additional nine FIRs connected to cybercrime or digital extortion involving the same network were integrated into the investigation.

Evidence has indicated that during the digital extortion of Oswal, the perpetrators posed as officers from the Central Bureau of Investigation and extorted Rs 7 crore from him.

This group has also swindled Rs 1.73 crore from others through similar digital extortion and cyber fraud schemes. Investigations have revealed that the funds were funneled through numerous mule accounts managed by Rathore and his accomplice Rumi Kalita.

Kalita, who is from Guwahati, and Rathore, from Kanpur, were reportedly involved in these digital extortion schemes, according to the ED.

It was disclosed that Kalita formed a partnership with Atanu Choudary and utilized bank accounts linked to his companies, Frozenman Warehousing and Logistics and Rigglo Ventures Pvt Ltd, to launder the illicit funds.

Funds from nine digital extortion cases were deposited into the accounts of Frozenman Warehousing and Logistics, while proceeds from two cases were funneled into Rigglo Ventures Pvt Ltd.

These funds were then transferred to over 200 mule bank accounts, enabling the diversion of the proceeds.

The execution of these transactions was managed by Rathore, who directed Kalita on fund transfers after the victims made their payments.

In exchange, these foreign accomplices compensated Rathore and provided details regarding the mule accounts to facilitate the movement of cybercrime profits overseas. Furthermore, it came to light that Rathore received his share of the criminal earnings in both USDT cryptocurrency and Indian rupees.

Earlier, searches were conducted on December 22, 2025, in connection with the case, and Rumi Kalita was apprehended on December 23, 2025, and is currently in the custody of the ED.

Following his arrest, Rathore was presented before the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate in Kanpur, who granted a two-day transit remand to the investigative agency. Subsequently, Rathore was brought before the Special Court in Jalandhar, which ordered his custody with the ED until January 5, 2026, as per the statement.