Ahmedabad Doctor Duped Of Rs 19 Crore In 102-Day Digital Arrest, Sells Gold, Property, Breaks FD

A shocking case of digital arrest has surfaced in Gujarat's Ahmedabad, where a doctor fell pray to the scam and lost over Rs 19 crore in over three months.

Based on the victim's complaint, the cybercrime CID arrested a resident of Surat named Lalji Jayantibhai Baldaniya (30). The police said that Baldaniya provided his company's (Murlidhar Manufacturing) account to cybercriminals in return for commission.

The victim filed the complaint on July 16 after which the CIB traced the flow of money across 35 bank accounts, eventually identifying Baldaniya.

In her complaint, the woman doctor said she was contacted by a person who claimed to be Jyoti Vishwanath from the Department of Telecommunications. She was told that she had landed in some trouble. Some days later, she was added to WhatsApp and Skype calls by other people who identified themselves as Sub-Inspector Mohan Singh, public prosecutors Deepak Saini and Venkateshwar, and notary official Pawan Kumar.

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The entire gang, posing as officials, convinced her that her phone number was used to send offensive SMS, and accordingly, she was booked in a money-laundering case.

This followed a fabricated paper drill using fake Enforcement Directorate notices. She was threatened with being booked under FEMA and PMLA. The cybercriminals further threatened her with arrest unless she cooperates with them and keeps what they call the 'case' a secret.

Convicting her, the fraudsters asked for details of her movable and immovable assets. She was told that plain-clothed officials would constantly keep a physical watch over her.

The mental harassment and pressure continued, and on the name of being held temporarily by the government, she broke her fixed deposits (FD), sold her jewellery, pledged gold kept in lockers, and sold her property and transferred money to the scammers.

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In total, she transferred Rs 19.24 crore to multiple accounts. The accused also sent fake acknowledgement letters with stamps and government letterheads, which were titled "Financial Supervisory Freezing Certificate." When no money was returned, she realised that she was duped and reached out to police.