He was then told he will be connected with a policeman from Maharashtra Police, who further told him that there has been a fraud committed at Mumbai and his (Singh’s) involvement is also under probe.
A 56-year-old tuition teacher is reportedly the latest victim of a relatively new type of cyber fraud menace — digital arrest. The city resident has claimed that he remained “digital arrest” for 22 days, and was duped of Rs 51.27 lakh by the fraudsters posing as enforcement officials, including representatives from Mumbai Police and the CBI.
Hari Nath Singh, who lives at Dadumajra, with his wife at his residence, claimed that he received a phone call on October 2, and was informed a SIM card had been issued in his name in Mumbai using his Aadhaar Card. The caller further said that the SIM was linked to numerous fraudulent activities, leading to seven complaints and one FIR registered against him.
“A woman claiming to be from a telephone department called and told me that my phone number will be closed for service as the number connected with the Aadhaar Card has been used for another SIM card, from which further a fraud was committed and multiple FIRs have been registered at Maharashtra,” Singh mentioned in his complaint.
He was then told he will be connected with a policeman from Maharashtra Police, who further told him that there has been a fraud committed at Mumbai and his (Singh’s) involvement is also under probe.
“I told the policeman that he had no role in it and that it has been more than 15 years since he went to Mumbai. I was told to cooperate in the investigation which was conducted by a team of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI),” the complainant added.
“They asked me to deposit all the cash I had in different bank accounts, which were of the RBI, and I was also told to keep my phone always on, and to remain at home. Also, during the digital arrest, I was told not to disclose anything about the arrest to my family, else they will also be prosecuted and sent to prison for two years.”
Singh said that from October 2 to October 24, till 4 pm in the evening, he was only allowed to go outside his residence to get cash withdrawn from his account, to deposit it further in the given accounts of RBI.
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To validate his assets, the victim was told to consolidate his funds, including FDs, bank balances, and investments, and transfer the total amount to a specified RBI account for verification purposes. “I made different transactions into the account of the accused, and in seven days itself I deposited an amount of Rs 48 lakh in the accounts given by the accused,” Singh said.
After a few days, he claimed he was told by the accused that the money he had deposited was checked, and his money was not appearing to be from crime proceeds and the amount of Rs 48 lakh will be returned back to his account. Singh claimed he was then further asked to deposit Rs 1.5 lakh, which was to be paid to the RBI officials, for the investigation they had conducted as a fee. Singh paid this amount in their account as well.
On October 24, he asked them about the further status of the case, and return of his money. To which the accused asked him to deposit Rs 2 lakh more for the no-objection certificate (NOC). It was then when he doubted the entire act and approached the cybercrime cell of the police and gave a formal complaint.
A FIR has been registered on his complaint and the investigation is under progress.
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
