In a significant crackdown on cybercrime, Goa’s Cyber Crime Police have arrested 25-year-old Rohan Arun Jhadav from Nashik, Maharashtra, in connection with a Rs 2.14 crore “digital arrest” scam.
According to SP (Cyber Crime) Rahul Gupta (IPS), the accused impersonated officials from the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to psychologically manipulate a victim into transferring large sums under false pretenses.
The scam began on May 30, 2025, when the victim received a WhatsApp call from an international number. The fraudster falsely claimed that multiple SIM cards were illegally registered using the victim’s Aadhaar and that an FIR had been lodged against them.
Using fear and coercion, Jhadav impersonated authorities and tricked the victim into transferring Rs2.14 crore over a series of communications, claiming the funds were needed for “verification” and “settlement.”
An FIR (Crime No. 19/2025) was registered on June 23 under Sections 318(4), 319(2) r/w 3(5) of the BNS, and Section 66-D of the IT Act, relating to identity fraud and cyber deception.
A team led by PSI Kunal Verlekar, under PI Deepak Pednekar, ASP Akshat Ayush (IPS), and SP Rahul Gupta, tracked Jhadav to Hanuman Nagar, Jail Road, Nashik, and arrested him.
Investigators suspect that Jhadav is part of a larger cyber fraud network. Devices and documents were seized, and efforts are underway to trace the wider syndicate and the money trail.
