A 75-year-old Delhi woman undergoing cancer treatment was allegedly trapped in a 22-day “digital arrest” scam in which fraudsters posing as CBI and Enforcement Directorate officials allegedly took her money, gold and original property documents.
The woman reportedly received a call on her landline on April 6. The callers claimed that her phone number had been linked to a money-laundering case and warned that she and her children could be arrested.
The fraudsters then shifted the conversation to WhatsApp video calls. Posing as police and investigation officers, they kept the woman under continuous surveillance and allegedly threatened her with arrest, bail denial and action against her children.
She was also told not to discuss the matter with anyone, with the callers allegedly claiming that it involved “national security.”
₹3 Lakh Transfer, Then Gold Loan
The scammers first asked about the woman’s finances, gold and property.
Following their instructions, she visited a Bank of Maharashtra branch in Vasant Kunj and transferred ₹3 lakh to an account provided by the callers.
The next day, she was allegedly instructed to take 83.5 grams of gold, including bangles, chains and studs, to Muthoot Fincorp. She obtained a gold loan of around ₹4.95 lakh, which was subsequently transferred to an account specified by the fraudsters.
By then, the woman was reportedly extremely frightened and repeatedly asked the callers to stop contacting her.
Instead, the fraud allegedly expanded beyond phone and video calls.
Fraudsters Came To Her Home
The callers told the woman that a property dealer would assist with the supposed investigation involving her house, valued at more than ₹2 crore.
On April 8, a man identifying himself as Sushant Kumar contacted her on WhatsApp and later visited her home.
According to the complaint, Kumar collected the original property papers and their copies on April 13 without providing a receipt.
Two days later, he allegedly returned with two other men, introduced as a prospective buyer and a witness. The woman was allegedly made to sign an advance receipt-cum-agreement to sell the property, along with several other documents.
She was reportedly assured that her money, gold and property papers would eventually be returned.
Daughter Discovers Something Is Wrong
The case came to light when the woman’s daughter, Radhika Ralhan, who lives in the Netherlands, video-called her mother on April 27.
During the call, Ralhan reportedly saw her mother sitting with an unfamiliar man in a car and noticed that she appeared frightened. She immediately asked her mother to approach the police.
Ralhan reached Delhi on April 29 and began seeking answers.
The complaint also alleges that two cheques worth ₹23 lakh and ₹10 lakh were deposited into the woman’s account on April 17. However, ₹21 lakh was withdrawn that day, followed by another ₹3 lakh withdrawal the next day. The complaint states that the money was subsequently transferred to an account linked to the Savitri Bai Phule Educational Welfare Society.
The woman received her last call from the alleged fraudsters on April 23. She later suspected that she had been cheated and asked Kumar to accompany her to the police station.
An e-FIR was registered on April 27.
Property Documents Become Another Point Of Dispute
After arriving in Delhi, Ralhan reportedly visited Kumar’s office and demanded the return of her mother’s original property documents.
According to the complaint, Kumar allegedly demanded ₹24 lakh for their return.
Kumar has denied the allegations. Speaking to NDTV, he said he had been contacted by a man who introduced himself as Nitin, the woman’s son, and told him that his mother was unwell and wanted to sell the property. Kumar said he later realised that the matter involved fraud.
The Delhi Police, in a status report submitted to the Delhi High Court, reportedly said that Kumar’s role had not been established in the fraud.
Delhi High Court Seeks Investigation
The woman’s daughter subsequently approached the Delhi High Court seeking a CBI investigation into the case.
According to the investigation, the fraud was allegedly linked to a gang operating from Cambodia.
The case highlights how so-called “digital arrest” scams can move beyond threatening phone calls and video chats. In this instance, the alleged criminals reportedly used intimidation, financial transfers, gold loans and in-person visits to gain control over the victim’s finances and property documents.
