A 27-year-old man from Tumakuru, identified as Arun T, has been arrested by Mangaluru Central Crime Police for allegedly impersonating a cybercrime officer and extorting Rs1.23 lakh from Facebook users.
Arun, son of the late Timmaraju and a resident near Chamundeshwari Temple on Bar Line Road, Kothitopu, was booked on July 15 under Crime No. 37/2025. He faces charges under Sections 66(C) and 66(D) of the Information Technology Act, along with Sections 112, 308(2), and 318(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
Police reports state that Arun targeted users who interacted with Kannada Facebook pages like Kannada Models, Troll Master, and Troll Basya. Posing as “Bengaluru Cybercrime Police Officer Sushil Kumar,” he allegedly contacted these individuals, accusing them of misconduct and threatening arrest unless they paid up.
One victim, fearful of arrest, reportedly transferred Rs1.23 lakh to Arun’s bank account. Investigators found that Arun had at least 11 similar complaints filed against him on the national Cybercrime Portal.
Based on digital evidence and intelligence, police tracked Arun to Tumakuru, where he was arrested and brought before a Mangaluru court. He has since been remanded to judicial custody as investigations continue.
Cyber experts caution that such “digital arrest” scams are spreading rapidly. Criminals impersonate law enforcement or government officials to extort money under the pretense of legal action. Authorities urge the public to verify such claims and report suspicious calls immediately.
