2 held in Rs 1.42-cr ‘digital arrest’ scam

NT Reporter
Panaji
The Goa police have arrested two persons from Assam in connection with a Rs 1.42-crore “digital arrest” cyber fraud case.
The accused Ashadul Islam (24) and Yasmina Ahmed (32), were traced to Nagaon district in Assam and arrested by a special team of the Crime Branch following an investigation, Crime Branch Superintendent of Police
Rahul Gupta said.
Gupta said the police believe the duo are key operatives in a wider chain of financial frauds reported across the country. “Investigation revealed that the accused were operating multiple mobile numbers using common IMEI devices, which were linked to several cyber fraud complaints nationwide. They appear to be main accused in a chain of financial frauds, and it is expected that multiple cases will be solved,” he said.
The accused had earlier been arrested by the Assam police in connection with similar cyber fraud activities. In that case, police seized 358 SIM cards, five mobile phones, a Wi-Fi router, a DVR, and a laptop, police said.
According to the Goa police, the same mobile numbers allegedly used by the accused were also linked to another “digital arrest” complaint registered in the state, involving a fraud amount of approximately Rs 63.5 lakh.
The Crime Branch said it received substantial cooperation from the Assam police during the operation. Three teams comprising personnel from the Crime Branch and the Cyber Crime Cell were constituted to carry out different aspects of the investigation.
The arrests are linked to a complaint filed by a woman from Bicholim, who was allegedly defrauded of Rs 1,42,04,868 in December 2025. Police said cyber criminals contacted her via WhatsApp calls, impersonating officials of the Central Bureau of Investigation and the Supreme Court of India.
The accused allegedly threatened the complainant by falsely claiming that she was involved in money laundering and illegal trade in diamonds and gold. She was placed under so-called “digital arrest” and, between December 15 and 26, 2025, was coerced into transferring Rs 1.42 crore into multiple bank accounts to “settle” the fabricated case, police said. Investigations are ongoing.