Gwalior (Madhya Pradesh): An Ayurvedic doctor in Gwalior was subjected to a 29-hour "digital arrest" by scammers, who duped him of ₹21 lakhs. The fraudsters contacted the doctor, alleging that a company under his Aadhaar number had been involved in laundering crores of rupees. Using fear tactics, they coerced him into transferring the money to their account.
After 29 hours of digital arrest, when he finally paid and got free, he told the ordeal to a family member. The family member urged him to report the matter to the cyber cell. He mustered the courage and reported the matter to the Gwalior cyber cell. A case has been registered, and the Gwalior Cyber Cell, in coordination with the Crime Branch, has initiated an investigation into the matter.
According to information, Dr. Mukesh Shukla, a resident of Hanuman Nagar in the Gola Ka Mandir area, received a call from someone claiming to be from an IT company. The caller alleged that a company named 'Mahalakshmi Transportation' was registered under his Aadhaar card and had a pending recovery amount of ₹9,40,044. The caller advised Dr. Shukla to lodge a complaint with the Delhi Police within two hours to avoid arrest. The caller then provided a number, claiming it belonged to 'Sub-Inspector Ajay Sharma' from the Delhi Police Headquarters, and he would assist him in filing an online FIR.
When Dr. Shukla contacted the number, the person on the other end introduced himself as 'Sub-Inspector Ajay Sharma'. He requested the doctor's documents and informed him that his Aadhaar card was involved in a money laundering case worth crores. To add to the fear, the fraudster showed the doctor a "golden card" with his photo and an arrest warrant bearing his picture via video call.
Fraudsters Impersonate CBI Officer to Extort Money
Posing as a law enforcement officer, the scammer said the doctor would be monitored under surveillance. Another individual, claiming to be 'CBI Officer Praveen Sood', joined the call, further pressuring the doctor. This so-called CBI officer alleged that fraudsters were using the doctor’s bank accounts and promised to help clear his name. He then directed the doctor to transfer funds to a CBI account via RTGS for "verification." Under immense pressure and fear, Dr. Shukla transferred ₹21 lakhs from his account the following day.
