CBI arrests three in Rs 1.6 crore ‘digital arrest’ cyber fraud case

The CBI has arrested three individuals, including a former bank assistant manager, in connection with a Rs 1.60 crore cyber fraud case. The scam involved threatening a senior citizen with a fake digital arrest and coercing them into transferring money.

Hyderabad: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Saturday arrested three persons, including a former bank assistant manager, in connection with Rs 1.60 crore cyber fraud targeting a senior citizen.

The arrested suspects were identified as D Mahesh, a former assistant manager at a private bank, along with Rajesh Kanna and Vayala Srinivas, residents of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.

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The case, taken up on the directions of the Supreme Court, involves a scam in which the victim was allegedly threatened with a fictitious digital arrest and coerced into transferring a large sum of money.

According to the CBI, the defrauded amount was routed through a bank account opened in the name of a company to disguise the transactions. Mahesh is suspected to have facilitated the opening of this account, while the other two suspects allegedly helped arrange mule accounts and channel the funds to conceal their origin.

Searches conducted at multiple locations across Telangana and Andhra Pradesh led to the seizure of documents and electronic devices, which are now being analysed for further evidence.

Officials said efforts are on to trace the money trail and identify other individuals linked to the network.