Bidhannagar Police on Tuesday arrested Md Amir from Lodhipura, Rajasthan, for his alleged involvement in a Rs 80 lakh digital arrest fraud targeting a Rajarhat businessman seven months ago. Amir was produced before a Rajasthan court and is being brought back to Kolkata for further investigation.
The victim received a call in August last year, where fraudsters impersonating Mumbai Police narcotics officers claimed that a parcel addressed to him contained suspicious items and was en route to Cambodia. The conmen kept him under a video call watch—referred to as “digital arrest”—for three days, extorting Rs 50 lakh on the first day.
The next day, the scammers falsely accused him of being involved in an aviation scam and demanded an additional Rs 30 lakh. To meet this demand, the businessman took a personal loan and transferred the amount.
Realizing the deceit a month later, the victim filed a complaint with Narayanpur Police Station. Investigators traced the money trail to a private bank account on Park Street, which then dispersed funds across multiple accounts nationwide, complicating the investigation.
Further probes revealed that the fraud syndicate operated primarily from Kolkata, using fake addresses and forged documents. Amir, believed to be one of the masterminds behind the cybercrime network, was located in Nagur, Rajasthan. Police raided multiple locations before securing his arrest.
Authorities continue to investigate to identify additional accomplices and dismantle the nationwide fraud ring.
