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Chandigarh senior citizen loses Rs 52 lakh in ‘digital arrest’ scam

Scammers kept 73-year-old under video surveillance for 17 days, showed him a fake courtroom and threatened arrest in a fabricated Mumbai case.

2 min readUpdated: Dec 5, 2025 10:05 PM IST

A Chandigarh senior citizen was tricked into transferring ₹52 lakh after fraudsters staged a fake digital arrest and courtroom over video calls.

In yet another case of digital arrest fraud in the city, a 73-year-old resident of Sector 45 was allegedly coerced into transferring Rs 52 lakh after cybercriminals threatened him with arrest in a fictitious case purportedly registered at Colaba Police Station, Mumbai. The scammers even showed the victim, Shashi Kumar Sahai, a fake courtroom over a video call and told him he would be kept under constant watch because he was a senior citizen.

According to the complaint, Sahai, a retired private-sector employee, received a WhatsApp audio call on October 27 from a man posing as a TRAI official who falsely claimed that his mobile number was linked to money laundering. Minutes later, another caller identifying himself as Akash Gupta from the Enforcement Directorate joined in, warning Sahai that he was under investigation for financial crimes and must cooperate or face immediate arrest.

To make the threat appear credible, the fraudsters allegedly displayed a fabricated courtroom scene over video call. They then kept him on near-continuous video surveillance from October 27 to November 12, isolating him from his family and exerting sustained psychological pressure.

Acting under their instructions, Sahai transferred Rs 28 lakh to an SBI account on October 31 and another Rs 24 lakh to an IndusInd Bank account on November 7, believing the payments were part of a verification process needed to avoid arrest.

The fraud surfaced on November 13 when Sahai’s son, Saurabh, learned that his father had been kept under constant video watch by unknown callers. Realising it was a cyber scam, the family approached authorities and filed a complaint on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal.

Sahai told police he was intimidated, mentally harassed and repeatedly threatened with arrest if he did not comply. He sought urgent assistance in recovering the siphoned money and taking legal action.

Acting on the complaint, the Cyber Crime Cell of Chandigarh Police has registered an FIR and begun tracing the digital trail of the fraudsters. Chandigarh DSP Cyber Crime A. Venkatesh urged citizens to remain vigilant and immediately report any suspicious calls from individuals claiming to represent TRAI, ED, CBI, police or other agencies.

Jagpreet Singh Sandhu

Jagpreet Singh Sandhu is a Senior Correspondent at The Indian Express, based in Chandigarh. He is a veteran reporter with over a decade of experience, specializing in legal, crime, and environmental reporting across the tri-city area (Chandigarh, Mohali, and Panchkula). Professional Background Core Beat: He primarily covers the Punjab and Haryana High Court, District Courts, CBI Courts, and Consumer Commissions. His legal reporting is known for breaking down complex judgments and tracking long-standing criminal cases. Environmental Reporting: Jagpreet has become a key voice in reporting on the deteriorating air quality and weather patterns in the Punjab-Haryana region. Crime & Technology: He frequently reports on cybercrime, digital arrest scams, and the intersection of technology and law enforcement, such as the development of citizen-centric policing apps. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) His late 2025 coverage has focused on significant judicial verdicts, major financial scams, and public health concerns: 1. Legal & CBI Court Verdicts "12 years on, CBI court acquits Haryana judge, parents in wife’s death case" (Dec 17, 2025): Detailed coverage of the acquittal of a judicial officer in a high-profile dowry death case from 2013. "‘Wicked & evil mind’: Court gives man 30-year term for kidnapping, sexually assaulting 8-year-old" (Dec 16, 2025): A report on a stern judgment from a Chandigarh district court in a POCSO case. "Man acquitted in rape case after victim found ‘very happy’ in wedding reception" (Dec 9, 2025): Covering a unique legal observation regarding consensual relationships and age verification. 2. Investigative & Scams "CBI registers FIR in Rs 1.14-cr Patient Welfare Grant scam at PGIMER" (Dec 19, 2025): An exposé on how funds meant for poor patients were siphoned off through forged documents and a photocopy shop inside the PGIMER campus. "Month-long torture, Rs 85 lakh transfers: How ‘Innocence Certificate’ led to a ‘digital arrest’ of an elderly couple" (Dec 12, 2025): Detailing a sophisticated cyber fraud targeting senior citizens in Chandigarh. 3. Environment & Public Safety "Panchkula air turns ‘very poor’, fourth worst in country" (Dec 22, 2025): Reporting on the sudden spike in pollution levels in Panchkula compared to neighbouring cities. "Soon, you can snap that overspeeding car, and report to Chandigarh Police" (Dec 16, 2025): Breaking news on a new mobile application being developed to allow citizens to report traffic violations via geo-tagged photos. 4. Gangster Culture & Crime "City Beautiful in the crosshairs of gangsters" (Dec 14, 2025): A feature analysis of how Chandigarh has increasingly become a staging ground for extortion and rivalries between gangster modules. "Shooters wanted for Parry murder held by Delhi Police Special Cell" (Dec 18, 2025): Following the developments in a high-profile murder case in Chandigarh’s Sector 26. Signature Style Jagpreet is recognized for his tenacious follow-up on cold cases and his ability to report on courtroom drama with a focus on victim rights. His work often highlights administrative lapses, whether in the handling of patient welfare funds or the enforcement of environmental standards. ... Read More

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