Kumaon is witnessing a sharp rise in digital arrest and cyber fraud cases, with senior citizens, retired officials, academicians, bankers, army veterans, and government personnel increasingly targeted by organized international rackets. In the past year alone, at least seven major incidents have resulted in losses exceeding Rs5.5 crore across the region.
In the latest case, cyber crime authorities arrested Rajendra Kumar from Solan, Himachal Pradesh, for allegedly duping former Rohilkhand University Vice-Chancellor Beena Shah of Rs1.47 crore.
According to police, fraudsters posing as officers from the Maharashtra Cyber Cell contacted the 72-year-old Nainital resident, falsely accusing her of being involved in a Rs60 crore money laundering case. Over a series of WhatsApp video calls, Shah was kept under “digital house arrest” for 12 consecutive days and coerced into transferring her life savings to multiple accounts controlled by the gang.
The Special Task Force (STF) tracked Kumar—originally from Yamunanagar, Haryana—by analysing bank accounts, mobile numbers, and WhatsApp records linked to the case. Officials recovered mobile phones, SIM cards, cheque books, debit cards, company stamps, registration certificates, and financial documents from his flat in Solan. Investigators revealed that Kumar allegedly moved Rs 50 lakh of the defrauded money through a firm to erase traces of the transactions.
Inspector Arun Kumar of the Rudrapur Cyber Crime Station explained, “Digital arrest is a cyber scam where fraudsters pose as police, CBI, ED, or other agencies, accuse victims of crimes, and confine them at home under threats. Panic-stricken victims end up transferring large sums of money.”
Such scams have surged in Kumaon, with multiple high-profile incidents reported in the past year:
A retired bank manager from Kashipur lost Rs 45 lakh.
A retired Subedar Major from Lohaghat was duped of Rs 1 crore.
A retired food officer from Haldwani lost Rs 1 crore.
A retired ITBP officer lost Rs 60 lakh.
A serving Kumaon University professor was digitally detained for two weeks and forced to transfer Rs 47 lakh.
“These fraudsters operate from countries such as Cambodia, Malaysia, and Myanmar, channeling money through extensive networks across India,” said a police officer. “They specifically target senior citizens and retired officials by exploiting fear of authority.”
Uttarakhand police have issued repeated warnings, with SSP Manikant Mishra stating, “There is no legal provision for digital arrest in India. No agency issues warrants via WhatsApp or video calls. Citizens must disconnect such calls immediately and report to the cyber helpline 1930 or their nearest police station.”
