Jammu, October 7, 2025 : The Cyber Wing of Jammu and Kashmir Police has busted a major online “digital arrest” scam, arresting three accused from Surat, Gujarat, for allegedly duping a Jammu-based businessman of over ₹4.4 crore, officials said on Tuesday.
According to Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Jammu, Joginder Singh, the case surfaced on September 2, when the victim lodged a written complaint alleging that he had been defrauded by cyber criminals posing as law enforcement officials.
The fraudsters reportedly accused the businessman of money laundering, claiming misuse of his Aadhaar and SIM credentials, and kept him under “digital arrest”—a coercive online tactic where victims are intimidated into isolation and forced compliance.
“The accused deceitfully coerced the victim into transferring ₹4,44,20,000 through multiple bank transactions to different accounts,” the SSP said.
Following the complaint, an FIR under Section 66D of the Information Technology Act, read with relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), was registered and a comprehensive investigation was initiated.
During the probe, cyber police traced money trails, analyzed bank accounts, mobile data, and digital footprints, which revealed that the network was operating primarily from Gujarat.
A Special Investigation Team (SIT) was subsequently dispatched to Surat, leading to the arrest of three individuals identified as Chauhan Manish Arunbhai, Ansh Vithani, and Kishorbhai Karamshibhai Diyoria.
“The arrested accused have been brought to Jammu for sustained interrogation to identify other co-conspirators, gather more evidence, and track additional financial links,” SSP Singh said.
Calling it a “major breakthrough”, the officer confirmed that the police have frozen ₹55.88 lakh across various bank accounts linked to the suspects. Of this, ₹6 lakh has already been refunded to the complainant.
A chargesheet has been filed in court against the arrested trio, while efforts continue to recover and return the remaining defrauded amount.
