A sophisticated digital arrest scam led to the arrest of eight individuals, including the main kingpins, Mehul Thakor (alias Jimmy) and Jignesh Vashani (alias Rock), from Telangana, Bihar, and Gujarat. The fraudsters were involved in duping a Kinnaur district resident of Rs 17.5 lakh through a digital arrest threat.
The scam unfolded on November 18, 2024, when the victim from Skiba village received a WhatsApp call from scammers posing as police officers. They threatened the victim with a digital arrest, pressuring him into transferring large sums of money. After losing Rs 17.5 lakh, the victim filed a complaint, and a case was registered under the relevant sections.
In December, a special cyber crime investigation team was formed, consisting of personnel from Kinnaur’s Cyber Cell and Moorang police station. The team discovered that the fraudsters were operating from Telangana and Bihar, and a police team was dispatched to these states. The investigation led to the arrest of Muhammad Nawaz, Revathi, Sudarshan, and Ravi Kumar from Telangana, and Aanand and Shintu Kumar Mishra from Bihar.
Further inquiries revealed that the main kingpins, Mehul Thakor and Jignesh Vashani, were operating from Gujarat. The police then arrested them and brought them to Kinnaur for further questioning.
During the investigation, the police recovered Rs 6.4 lakh from the accused and froze their bank accounts. Superintendent of Police (SP) Abhishek S confirmed the arrests, and the accused were presented before a court in Rampur, where they were sent on police remand.
This case highlights the growing menace of digital arrest scams, where fraudsters exploit technology and law enforcement impersonation to trick people into parting with large sums of money. The police urge citizens to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity immediately.