In a shocking case of cyber fraud, scammers posing as officials from the Delhi Police and the National Investigation Agency (NIA) allegedly cheated a retired bank manager from Bhandup of ₹40.90 lakh. A case has been registered at the East Region Cyber Police Station, and further investigation is underway.
According to police sources, the 61-year-old victim, a resident of Bhandup (West), received a video call on the Signal app from an unknown number on March 10, 2026. The caller falsely introduced himself as a PSI-rank officer from the Delhi Police and NIA.
The fraudsters claimed that the victim’s name, Aadhaar details and mobile number had surfaced in the mobile data of a suspect involved in a Delhi bomb blast case. They further alleged that a bank account had been opened in the victim’s name at Hubballi in Karnataka, through which ₹2.65 crore had been laundered. The accused then intimidated the victim by invoking the name of the Supreme Court and threatening legal consequences.
Under the pretext of a “digital arrest,” the victim was instructed to isolate himself in a separate room and remain on the call. Using fear and coercion, the scammers forced him to transfer a total of ₹40.90 lakh via RTGS to multiple bank accounts over a span of several days.
On March 11, 2026, the victim transferred ₹2.90 lakh to an account in Karur Vysya Bank. Two days later, on March 13, he transferred ₹28 lakh to an account in ICICI Bank. Subsequently, on March 18, he transferred another ₹10 lakh to an account in IndusInd Bank. This amount was arranged through a loan taken by his wife.
After receiving the money, the accused informed the victim that the case had been “closed” and switched off their phones. Realising he had been duped, the victim contacted the cybercrime helpline (1930) and approached the cyber police.
A case has been registered and further investigation is in progress.