The Uttarakhand Special Task Force (STF) has arrested a Bengaluru resident for allegedly defrauding a senior citizen in Dehradun and another victim in Nainital of Rs87 lakh through a digital arrest scam. The accused, Kiran Kumar KS, was taken into custody on November 9 from his home in Yelahanka, Bengaluru North, after investigators traced fraudulent bank accounts linked to the crime.
Another accused, Rajeshwari Rani of Tamil Nadu, has also been named in the case for her connection to the bank accounts used in the scam.
According to STF Senior Superintendent of Police Navneet Singh Bhullar, cybercriminals posed as officials from the Mumbai Police, CBI, or other agencies and contacted victims through WhatsApp calls, video messages and texts. They falsely accused victims of involvement in money laundering or criminal cases, threatening immediate legal action. Under pressure, the victims were coerced into transferring funds into accounts controlled by the scam operators and their associates.
The investigation revealed that the accused used multiple bank accounts and mobile numbers to run the operation. Suspicious transactions linked to these accounts exceeded Rs9 crore nationwide, while the amount extorted from the two Uttarakhand victims alone totaled Rs87 lakh.
During the arrest, the STF recovered mobile phones, SIM cards, a laptop, and bank documents from Kiran Kumar. He has been placed under a six-day transit remand for further interrogation. Notices have also been issued to Rani under Section 35(3) BNSS.
Bhullar urged the public not to respond to unknown callers claiming to be government officials or threatening “digital arrest.” He advised citizens to verify such communications and promptly report suspected financial fraud to the nearest cybercrime police station or via cybercrime.gov.in.
