Retired officer Eknath Joshi was duped of ₹78.6 lakh in a ‘Digital Arrest’ scam by cybercriminals posing as law officials. Police urge citizens not to trust such threatening video calls.
Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, July 11 – A shocking case of cybercrime has come to light, where retired government officer Eknath Joshi (77) was duped of a staggering ₹78.6 lakh over six days by cyber fraudsters using a manipulative and disturbing scam tactic called ‘Digital Arrest’.
The incident has once again sparked concern about the rising trend of high-tech financial frauds targeting senior citizens and professionals under the guise of government and law enforcement actions.
The retired officer, formerly with the Divisional Commissionerate, received a video call on July 2 from a person posing as Sanjay Pise, who wore a police uniform and claimed association with IPS officer Vishwas Nangre-Patil.
Joshi was falsely told that a terror-linked transaction of ₹2 crore had occurred in his wife’s bank account, and ₹20 lakh had been traced to his own account — allegedly deposited by wanted terrorist Abdul Salam.
The scammer claimed the National Investigation Agency (NIA) was involved and threatened immediate arrest under charges of aiding terrorism.
To deepen the deception, the fraudsters arranged a second video call, this time with a man impersonating IPS officer Vishwas Nangre-Patil. His convincing demeanor and fabricated credentials led Joshi to trust him completely.
This psychological manipulation — creating a sense of digital surveillance and fake legal danger — is what experts are now calling the “Digital Arrest Scam.”
Over the next six days, Joshi — fearing arrest, defamation, and legal consequences — followed the fraudsters’ instructions and transferred ₹78.6 lakh into various accounts. Only later did he realize the entire situation was a fraudulent trap.
A case was registered on July 9 at Kranti Chowk Police Station, and Deputy Commissioner of Police Prashant Swamy confirmed that a detailed investigation is underway.
Police have strongly urged citizens not to panic if they receive such calls, and to verify identities through official channels. They have emphasized that no government or law enforcement agency will demand money or legal compliance through video calls or unverified links.
This latest case highlights the urgent need for awareness and digital literacy, especially among retired officials, senior citizens, and professionals.
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