In a shocking and elaborate cyber fraud case in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, cyber criminals targeted a 65-year-old retired official from the Central Public Works Department (C-PWD) and managed to siphon off a staggering sum of Rs 1.83 crore. Impersonating senior officers from the police and the Enforcement Directorate (ED), the fraudsters placed the victim under a coercive state known as 'digital arrest' for 12 consecutive days. Under the intense fear of immediate arrest, life imprisonment, and even the death penalty in a fabricated money laundering case, the victim was manipulated into transferring his life savings across multiple bank accounts specified by the scammers. The perpetrators exploited fake official documents, simulated government offices over video calls, and maintained continuous surveillance to prevent the victim from seeking help or informing his family members.
Initial Contact via Fake Credit Card Allegations
The fraudulent scheme began on July 13 when Subhash Chandra Doharey, a resident of Satyam Vihar in Awas Vikas No.-1, Kalyanpur, Kanpur, received an unexpected phone call on his mobile device from an unknown number. The caller claimed that a new credit card had been issued under Doharey's name and that an unauthorized transaction exceeding Rs 1 lakh had recently taken place using the card. Doharey, who had worked as a senior official in the C-PWD prior to his retirement, denied applying for or using any such credit card. Although the initial call ended shortly after his denial, it served as the opening hook for a much larger, coordinated psychological operation that unfolded the following day.
Impersonation of Mumbai Police and Fake ED Documents
On July 14, Doharey received a follow-up phone call from an individual identifying himself as IPS Officer Sunil Kumar Gautam, purportedly stationed at Bandra Police Station in Mumbai. The impersonator alleged that Doharey's identity and banking credentials had surfaced during an investigation into a major financial crime linked to a suspect named Sandeep. To validate their claims, the cyber criminals initiated video calls via WhatsApp and dispatched forged legal notices bearing the official seals and logos of the Enforcement Directorate (ED), with Doharey's name prominently displayed as an accused party. During the video interaction, the fraudsters orchestrated a realistic background resembling an active police precinct and investigative headquarters, complete with personnel wearing official uniforms and handling case files, which completely convinced the retired officer of the authenticity of the proceedings.
Twelve Days of Digital Arrest and Systematic Money Transfer
The perpetrators imposed strict instructions on Doharey, warning him that the case involved national security matters and that any disclosure to family members, friends, or local authorities would result in immediate physical arrest, long-term imprisonment, or capital punishment. Confined to his home and kept under constant monitoring through video feeds—a tactic widely recognized as digital arrest—Doharey was systematically instructed to cooperate with a purported financial audit. From July 14 onwards, over a period spanning 12 days, the fraudsters directed him to transfer funds from his personal bank accounts to various designated accounts under the guise of verifying the legality of his assets. They assured him that once the joint verification by the Reserve Bank of India and the ED concluded, the entire sum of Rs 1.83 crore would be fully refunded to his primary account.
Realization of Fraud, Deteriorating Health, and Police Action
The ordeal came to an abrupt end when the total transfers reached Rs 1.83 crore and the scheduled deadline for fund reversal arrived. When Doharey attempted to contact the investigators to confirm the return of his money, all the telephone numbers used by the fraudsters were abruptly switched off, and messaging channels were disconnected. Realizing that he had fallen prey to an organized cyber crime syndicate, the retired officer suffered severe mental trauma, leading to a sudden deterioration in his health. He immediately confided in his family members, who promptly escalated the matter to the local authorities. The Cyber Police Station in Kanpur has registered a formal case under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Information Technology Act. Investigating officers are currently analyzing the transaction trails of the destination bank accounts, reviewing Call Detail Records (CDR), and coordinating with banking institutions to trace and apprehend the perpetrators involved in the multi-state racket.
