In a significant cybercrime breakthrough, the North Cyber Police arrested three men from Gujarat involved in a “digital arrest” scam that defrauded a retired Air India official of Rs 67 lakh.
The 63-year-old victim, a resident of Malad West, was manipulated through fear and deception between January 10 and 18, 2024. The fraudsters impersonated officials from the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), falsely accusing the victim of serious crimes such as money laundering and human trafficking.
The accused, Vedant Jankidas Mahant (26), Mohit Hareshbhai Bhutaiyya (27), and Bhavik Jasbhai Patel (43), all residents of Vadodara, employed sophisticated tactics, including continuous WhatsApp video calls and sharing fake summonses threatening legal action.
Police investigation revealed a complex network of bank accounts used to launder the stolen funds, with Bhavik Patel withdrawing cash and distributing it among accomplices while retaining a commission. Vedant Mahant also allegedly traveled to Dubai to convert fraudulent Indian rupees into US dollars, which were then brought back to India.
The trio was produced before the Borivali Metropolitan Magistrate Court on June 28, with police seeking further custody for interrogation. The investigation continues, focusing on possible international links and hawala channels used for money laundering.
