In Gandhinagar, a shocking case of cyber fraud has come to light. Eight individuals have been arrested for defrauding a local doctor of ₹19.24 crore. The arrests were made by the State Cyber Crime Cell of the CID. The suspects were identified as Yashpalsinh Chauhan (24), Naaz Razsumra (23), Nilesh Raank (32), Jaydev Nirmal (20), Ameer Manek (21), Shabbir Samvat (23), Rashid Pathan (21), and Ismail Khumbiya (29). They were captured in Rajkot, Amreli, and Jamnagar.
The incident began when the gang posed as government officials. They claimed that the doctor was involved in money laundering. The fraudsters told her that she would face serious legal issues if she did not cooperate. Over 103 days, they kept her under what they called a ‘digital arrest’. They used continuous WhatsApp video calls to threaten and isolate her.
The gang claimed they were from various government departments, including telecommunications and law enforcement. They accused the doctor of sending offensive messages from her phone and warned her that police were watching her closely. The victim was coerced into revealing her personal and financial details.
To cover their demands, the doctor sold her house, gold, and stocks. She also withdrew money from fixed deposits. In total, she transferred ₹19.24 crore to multiple bank accounts. The fraudsters provided her with a fake ‘Financial Supervisionary Freezing Certificate’ and promised a refund after the investigation.
The police became aware of the fraud when they traced suspicious withdrawals amounting to ₹50 lakh from eight bank accounts linked to the suspects. Three police teams were formed to pursue the case, with assistance from local law enforcement.
Despite the arrests, the stolen money remains unrecovered. Much of it was laundered through informal courier networks known as angadia. The search for additional suspects is ongoing, according to Superintendent of Police Dharmendra Sharma.
This case highlights the increasing threat of cybercrime in Gujarat. The police have emphasized that there is no legal concept of ‘digital arrest’. They urge anyone receiving such threatening calls to report them immediately to the police. The victim is currently receiving counselling to help her cope with the aftermath of this traumatic experience.
Investigators are continuing to delve into the case, with hopes of recovering the stolen funds and preventing similar incidents in the future. Cybercrime is a growing issue, and public awareness is crucial in combating it. Residents are advised to stay alert and report suspicious activities to the authorities.