In a major crackdown on cybercriminal networks involved in digital arrest scams, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested two accused and conducted coordinated searches at over 80 locations across 16 states under Operation Chakra-VI.
The arrested accused have been identified as B. Naresh of Chennai and Sanjib Saha of Kolkata. According to the CBI, the duo was allegedly involved in incorporating shell companies and opening mule bank accounts used to launder nearly ₹2 crore in suspected proceeds of crime linked to digital arrest frauds.
As part of the operation, the CBI constituted 60 special teams that carried out simultaneous searches in Punjab, Gujarat, Delhi, Maharashtra, Haryana, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Assam, West Bengal, Manipur, Karnataka, and Odisha.
The agency said the action is linked to an ongoing investigation targeting a criminal network connected to more than 200 digital arrest scam cases. Investigators recently uncovered a fraudulent website with a domain deceptively similar to the official website of the Supreme Court of India. The fake website was allegedly used by fraudsters to intimidate and deceive victims by posing as law enforcement and judicial authorities.
The case was registered following a complaint from the Registry of the Supreme Court. During the investigation, the CBI employed advanced forensic tools and technical analysis to identify key components of the criminal infrastructure operating both within India and abroad.
Investigators found that the accused and their associates allegedly uploaded forged documents, including fake court orders and fabricated notices purportedly issued by law enforcement agencies, to lend credibility to their scams.
During the searches, CBI teams seized several incriminating documents, digital devices, mobile phones, and banking records. The seized material is currently undergoing forensic examination.
The agency has also found evidence suggesting that citizens of multiple countries may have fallen victim to the same network. Relevant international law enforcement agencies are being alerted through appropriate channels.
The investigation is continuing, and the CBI said it remains committed to dismantling cybercrime networks and bringing perpetrators of digital fraud to justice.
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