The Delhi High Court has denied bail to four men accused of leading a massive ₹22.92 crore fraud in the form of ‘digital arrest’ targeting a senior citizen.
Justice Manoj Jain, while dismissing both regular and anticipatory bail pleas, observed that the case revealed a deeper and a more complicated conspiracy. The Court noted that several suspects were still absconding and a substantial portion of the defrauded amount remained untraced, making it premature to grant relief. It emphasized that the full extent of the conspiracy would only emerge through further investigation and trial.
Rejecting the defence that the accused were merely facilitators or unaware participants, the Court held that their roles could not be treated as peripheral. It observed that they appeared to be integral to the functioning of the alleged conspiracy, cautioning that any leniency at this stage could impede the ongoing investigation, which has recently been taken over by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
The legal proceedings originated from a report filed by a victim in his late 70s. According to the complaint, the scam began with a call from individuals impersonating as telecommunications staff, who then transferred him to accomplices posing as senior police and law enforcement authorities. He was told that his identity had been misused in financial crimes and was placed under so-called “digital arrest,” during which he was isolated, kept under constant video surveillance, and threatened with legal consequences.
According to the complaint, the victim was coerced into transferring a total of ₹22.92 crore over the course of several weeks. Investigators discovered that ₹1.90 crore of these defrauded funds travelled through a bank account belonging to one of the suspects. The prosecution stated that the funds were quickly moved across multiple accounts, with several individuals allegedly managing bank accounts and mobile connections used to channel the money into mule accounts.
The accused argued that they had only shared bank or mobile details, were not beneficiaries of the fraud, and should not be denied bail solely due to the seriousness of the allegations. Those seeking anticipatory bail also claimed they had cooperated with the investigation earlier and were implicated primarily on the basis of co-accused statements.
Addressing the broader issue, the Court highlighted the alarming rise of such “digital arrest” scams, noting that they exploit the vulnerability of senior citizens and undermine public trust. It observed that such offences require a distinct and sensitive approach due to their wide societal impact.
The Court further held that custodial interrogation may be necessary to trace the money trail and identify other participants, particularly given the digital nature of the evidence. It concluded that such offences constitute organized crime, where each participant plays a crucial role in executing the fraud.
The post Delhi High Court denies bail in ₹23 Crore ‘Digital Arrest’ conspiracy appeared first on India Legal.