Kurukshetra, Haryana – The Kurukshetra police have cracked a major cyber fraud operation with the arrest of Anikant Bhat, a resident of Deepnagar, Dehradun, who was involved in duping people out of lakhs under a fake ‘digital arrest’ scam linked to handlers based in Cambodia.
Police say Bhat was operating under the instructions of his handlers in Cambodia and was trained there in cyber fraud techniques. Investigators seized multiple devices from him, including six mobile phones, one laptop, 278 SIM cards, six SIM banks, one camera, two Wi-Fi devices, and a passport.
Kurukshetra SP Nitish Agarwal explained how Bhat used advanced technology, including SIM banks—mini-exchanges capable of holding up to 256 SIM cards each—to make fraudulent calls that appeared as local Indian numbers. This tricked victims into believing they were receiving authentic calls. His handlers monitored his activity continuously through a camera installed in his room.
The case was registered following a complaint by Bal Krishan, a retired Army officer from Kurukshetra, who fell victim after receiving calls from fraudsters posing as bank officials. Under threat of a fake ‘digital arrest’ for alleged financial crimes, Krishan was coerced into transferring over Rs78 lakh in multiple installments.
SP Agarwal clarified that “digital arrest” is a fictitious term with no basis in Indian law and urged citizens to remain alert. He advised those who receive such calls to immediately inform family, approach the police, or call the National Cyber Helpline at 1930.
“Awareness is the best shield against cyber fraud,” Agarwal said, urging the public to be cautious.
