Digital scam: Kerala man held as Panaji victim loses `90.85L

NT Reporter

Panaji

The Goa cyber crime police have arrested Muhammad Rasique Pulikkal (21) in connection with a digital arrest fraud case in which a Panaji resident lost around Rs 90.85 lakh.

Police said the accused had received Rs 5 lakh in his bank account, which was subsequently routed to multiple accounts of his associates. Further analysis revealed that his account was linked to two other cyber fraud cases across Karnataka and Goa, involving a cumulative fraud amount of Rs 2.1 crore.

Superintendent of Police Raju Raut Desai said an offence was registered on February 23, 2026, under Sections 318(4), 319(2) read with BNS and Section 66-D of the IT Act, based on a complaint filed by a resident of Panaji in Tiswadi.

“Prior to February 23, the accused persons, operating via WhatsApp numbers, impersonated officers of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Mumbai. They falsely informed the complainant that he had misused personal information and further threatened him by alleging his involvement in a money laundering case with a famous personality and for receiving commission from him,” said Raut Desai.

The accused then unlawfully subjected the complainant to a so-called “digital arrest” and coerced him into settling the alleged case by transferring a total sum of
Rs 90,85,000.

“Following an in-depth technical investigation, a suspect was traced at Malappuram, Kerala. A police team led by PSI Navin Naik visited Kerala and caught Pulikkal,” said Raut Desai.

Police said the accused will be produced before the court to seek police custody. Further investigation is in progress under PI Deepak Pednekar, supervised by ASP BV Sridevi and
SP Raut Desai.