Nagpur: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has uncovered a Nagpur connection in a major “Digital Arrest” cyber fraud case involving ₹1.86 crore, conducting coordinated searches across six states and arresting three accused, including one from Nagpur.
The case relates to the defrauding of a senior citizen from Kerala’s Kottayam district, where fraudsters allegedly used intimidation tactics popularly referred to as “digital arrest” to siphon off large sums of money.
According to the CBI, a detailed digital forensics and financial trail analysis revealed a multi-state cyber fraud network with suspected international links. Acting on these leads, the agency carried out simultaneous search and arrest operations focusing on two crucial pillars of the fraud ecosystem – mule bank accounts and fraudulently obtained SIM cards.
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Searches were conducted at multiple locations in Goa, Bengaluru, Palakkad (Kerala), Nagpur, Hyderabad and Delhi. During the operation, investigators seized digital devices, debit cards, bank documents and other incriminating material, which are now under forensic examination.
Among those arrested is Mohammad Mushtaque from Nagpur, identified as a shell company operator. Investigators allege that his company’s bank account was used to receive proceeds of the cyber crime. Several debit cards and digital devices were recovered from premises linked to him, highlighting Nagpur’s role in the money-laundering chain of the scam.
Another accused, Blessin Jacob Abraham, was arrested from Goa. He is suspected to be a mule account operator who facilitated fund movement and cryptocurrency transactions connected to the fraud. Multiple digital devices containing crucial data were seized from him.
The third accused, Mohammad Junaid, was arrested in Bengaluru for allegedly fraudulently procuring SIM cards. He reportedly lured people with offers of “5G SIM upgrades,” misused their KYC documents, and activated SIM cards later used in cyber fraud operations believed to be run from outside India.
The CBI said investigations are ongoing to identify more domestic and international collaborators and to dismantle the wider cyber-fraud infrastructure behind “Digital Arrest” scams.
Calling the operation a significant step, the agency said it reflects its commitment to cracking down on organised cyber-crime networks and protecting public trust in digital systems.
