Surat cybercrime police have arrested a wanted cyber fraudster, Shankar Chaudhary (37), at Delhi airport just before he could flee to Russia. Chaudhary is the sixth accused in a Rs 1.71 crore “digital arrest” scam that targeted a senior citizen in December 2024.
Police said Chaudhary had been absconding for nearly a year and was wanted for supplying mule bank accounts used to divert the cheated money. He had recently obtained a Russian visa through an agent and attempted to leave the country, unaware that a lookout circular (LOC) had been issued against him. He was intercepted by the Surat cybercrime team and taken into custody.
Investigators revealed that Chaudhary had previously travelled to Dubai with co-accused Rameshwar Suthar, where he allegedly came in contact with an international cybercrime syndicate. Upon returning to India, he reportedly arranged mule accounts for the gang in exchange for a commission.
In the scam, fraudsters falsely informed the victim that his Aadhaar was linked to a money-laundering case and placed him under a so-called “digital arrest.” Fake letters purportedly from the CBI and RBI were used to intimidate the victim into transferring Rs 1.71 crore.
Earlier, five other accused—Mukesh Patel, Mehul Patel, Dungarsinh Rajput, Kesarsinh Devda, and Rameshwar Suthar—had already been arrested. Chaudhary was produced before a court and remanded to three days of police custody for further investigation.
Police said the investigation is ongoing to trace any additional accomplices and accounts used in the scam.
