Kolkata youth arrested for ₹3 crore 'digital arrest' scam targeting Haryana woman
Synopsis
A Kolkata man has been arrested for allegedly extorting ₹3 crore from an elderly Haryana woman through a 'digital arrest' scam — where fraudsters impersonated CBI officers and confined her psychologically. A second similar case in south Kolkata involving ₹12.55 lakh signals a dangerous pattern targeting elderly citizens across India.
Key Takeaways
Rahul Roy of Bansdroni, Kolkata arrested on 11 May 2025 for his role in a ₹3 crore 'digital arrest' scam.
The victim was the elderly wife of a former Army officer in Panchkula, Haryana ; fraudsters posed as CBI officers .
A joint team of Kolkata Police and Haryana Police traced the funds to a Kolkata bank account, leading to Roy's arrest.
In a separate Kolkata case, an elderly woman from Nayabad was extorted of ₹12.55 lakh in two instalments via the same 'digital arrest' tactic.
Police are searching for remaining gang members; investigations in both cases are ongoing.
Rahul Roy, a young man from the Bansdroni area of south Kolkata, has been arrested on charges of extorting ₹3 crore from an elderly woman in Haryana through a 'digital arrest' scam, a senior police officer confirmed on Monday, 11 May. The accused was apprehended in a joint operation by Kolkata Police and Haryana Police, and is being taken to Haryana for further proceedings.
How the Scam Unfolded
The victim, the elderly wife of a former Army officer residing in the Panchkula police station area of Haryana, was allegedly called by cyber fraudsters posing as Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) officers. They told her that drugs had been found in a parcel sent in her name and falsely claimed she was under 'digital arrest' — a tactic in which victims are psychologically coerced into believing they cannot leave their homes or contact anyone until the matter is resolved.
As purported evidence, the fraudsters showed her fabricated video calls and sent multiple fake documents via WhatsApp. Fearing legal consequences, she transferred ₹3 crore to the fraudsters' account. She subsequently filed a complaint with the Panchkula police station.
How the Accused Was Traced
During the investigation, Haryana Police traced a portion of the ₹3 crore to a bank account in Kolkata, which led them to identify Rahul Roy of Bansdroni. A joint team of Kolkata Police and Haryana Police subsequently raided his residence. Roy has since been arrested and is being transported to Haryana. Police are actively searching for the remaining members of the gang.
A Second Case in South Kolkata
In a separate but similar incident, cyber fraudsters targeted an elderly woman from Nayabad in the Panchasayar area of south Kolkata, allegedly extorting ₹12.55 lakh in two instalments. The fraudsters called her, introduced themselves as police officers, and claimed that her daughter and son-in-law were involved in cases of cheating and forgery.
Out of fear, she transferred ₹10 lakh in the first phase. Even after the payment, threatening calls continued, and she was allegedly forced to transfer an additional ₹2.55 lakh. It was only after her daughter explained the nature of the fraud that she realised she had been targeted. She has since filed a complaint with the Panchasayar police station, and the investigation is underway.
The Growing Threat of Digital Arrest Fraud
The 'digital arrest' scam has emerged as one of the most alarming cyber fraud patterns across India in recent times, disproportionately targeting elderly individuals — particularly those with limited digital literacy. Fraudsters typically impersonate officials from agencies such as the CBI, Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), or the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to instil fear. This is not an isolated incident — similar cases have been reported across multiple states, prompting the government and law enforcement agencies to issue public advisories. With two cases surfacing in the same week from Bengal and Haryana, authorities are urging citizens to verify the identity of any caller claiming to represent a law enforcement agency before making any financial transactions.
Point of View
Scalable fraud operation with inter-state financial trails and coordinated gang structures. The fact that a single accused in Bansdroni was linked to a ₹3 crore transfer from Haryana points to a sophisticated money-mule network that law enforcement is only beginning to map. What is striking is the victim profile: elderly individuals, often spouses of retired government or defence personnel, who are both asset-rich and less likely to quickly verify the legitimacy of official-sounding callers. Two cases in a single week from the same region should prompt not just police action but a coordinated public awareness campaign — particularly targeting senior citizens in tier-2 cities and residential apartments where social isolation can make such psychological coercion devastatingly effective.
NationPress
11 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a 'digital arrest' scam?
A 'digital arrest' scam is a cyber fraud in which criminals impersonate law enforcement officers — such as CBI, NCB, or ED officials — and falsely tell victims they are under 'digital arrest', meaning they cannot leave their home or contact anyone. Victims are then coerced into transferring large sums of money to avoid fabricated legal consequences.
Who was arrested in the Kolkata digital arrest case?
Rahul Roy, a resident of the Bansdroni area in south Kolkata, was arrested on 11 May 2025 in a joint operation by Kolkata Police and Haryana Police. He is accused of being part of a cyber fraud gang that extorted ₹3 crore from an elderly woman in Panchkula, Haryana.
How did police trace the accused in the digital arrest scam?
Haryana Police, during their investigation, found that a portion of the ₹3 crore extorted from the victim had been transferred to a bank account in Kolkata. This led them to identify Rahul Roy of Bansdroni, after which a joint team raided his residence and arrested him.
Who was the victim in the Haryana digital arrest case?
The victim was the elderly wife of a former Army officer residing in the Panchkula police station area of Haryana. She was deceived by fraudsters posing as CBI officers and transferred ₹3 crore after being told she was under 'digital arrest' over a fabricated drugs-in-parcel allegation.
Was there another digital arrest case reported from Kolkata?
Yes, in a separate incident, an elderly woman from Nayabad in the Panchasayar area of south Kolkata was allegedly extorted of ₹12.55 lakh in two instalments — ₹10 lakh first, followed by ₹2.55 lakh — by fraudsters posing as police officers. She filed a complaint with the Panchasayar police station after her daughter alerted her to the fraud.
