CBI Raids 40 Locations in ‘Digital Arrest’ Fraud Probe Under Operation Chakra-V

New Delhi, 09 October 2025 — In a sweeping coordinated effort, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) today conducted search operations across nearly 40 locations spanning Delhi-NCR, Haryana, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Kerala and West Bengal. The raids are part of its ongoing crackdown on a sophisticated, transnational “digital arrest” fraud network, codenamed Operation Chakra-V. Authorities say the syndicate impersonated law enforcement or judicial agencies, coerced victims into remote confinement through video calls, and extorted large sums — often by threatening arrest unless payments were made. Search teams recovered digital devices, financial and KYC records, SIM cards, and transaction logs believed to be key links in laundering victim funds to overseas accounts. The CBI says its deeper investigation is now tracing mule networks, freezing wallets, and coordinating with telecom and platform providers to block further misuse. Cybersecurity experts warn citizens that real agencies never demand UPI, crypto or instant transfers over phone, and advise hanging up and verifying through official channels. As evidence is being processed, arrests and chargesheets are expected soon.

📋 Anatomy of the Raid: What We Know So Far

The Raids & Scope

The CBI carried out simultaneous searches at about 40 sites in six states, focusing on residential premises, offices, and facilitation nodes.
The raids stemmed from an FIR filed based on complaints from nine victims on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (NCRP/I4C, MHA).
During searches, investigators seized digital devices (laptops, mobiles, external hard drives), KYC documents, SIM cards, WhatsApp / communication records, bank/transaction logs, and other material evidence.
The CBI says the operation uncovered a domestic facilitation network that supplied mule bank accounts, managed local logistics, and enabled hawala / layering channels to move illicit funds internationally.

Modus Operandi: “Digital Arrest” Scheme

The “digital arrest” fraud is an increasingly notorious cybercrime model. Key features include:

Impersonation & Social Engineering
Fraudsters pose as officials from CBI, NCB, police, TRAI, etc., claiming the victim’s Aadhaar or bank account is involved in serious criminal activity.
Remote Confinement via Video Call
Victims are coerced to stay on video call (often for prolonged durations), made to believe they are under digital custody, threatened with virtual arrest or court orders.
Forged Documents / Fake Portals
Scammers show fake court orders, Supreme Court letters, police mandates, official letterheads to intimidate victims.
Forced Transfers & Extortion
Under duress, victims are compelled to transfer funds (via bank transfers, UPI, cryptocurrency) to accounts controlled by the fraud network, with promises of “release” after verification or refund.
Mule Network & Money Laundering
The ill-gotten funds are layered via mule accounts, hawala channels, or crypto switching, and often routed abroad (some to locations like Cambodia, per CBI claims).
Threats to Silence
Victims are warned not to approach anyone, not to switch off the video or phone, under threat of arrest or harm.

Analysis of more than 15,000 IP addresses reportedly revealed that perpetrators operated from foreign nodes (including Cambodia) while leveraging Indian intermediaries.

Financial Flow & Laundering

The recovered evidence suggests the network used multiple mule accounts to layer and integrate stolen funds.
Some portion of the illicit funds were withdrawn within India; the rest was channeled out of the country and withdrawn via foreign ATMs.
The operation also uncovered parallel hawala pipelines and fintech infrastructure being misused for rapid money movement.

Investigative Focus Ahead

Mapping end-to-end communication chains (calls, IP logs, WhatsApp metadata)
Tracing mule account holders and facilitators
Freezing and retrieving funds in domestic and foreign jurisdictions
Linking conspirators overseas and coordinating cross-border legal assistance
Building charge sheets under multiple statutes (IT Act, cheating, forgery, conspiracy)

🧭 Strategic Significance & Broader Context

Why Operation Chakra-V Matters

Evolving Cyber Threats
This raid signals that Indian authorities are intensifying their fight against next-generation cyber-enabled frauds that exploit human psychology and remote technologies.
Strengthening Cybercrime Footprints
The operation brings to light how deep and enmeshed these fraud networks have become, spanning geographies, mule systems, telecommunication infrastructure, and digital channels.
Deterrence & Confidence
High-visibility raids and seizures can act as a deterrent. It also serves to boost public confidence in law enforcement’s ability to crack down on complex cybercrime.
Legal & Policy Impetus
The investigation may help policymakers tighten regulations around KYC, SIM issuance, telecom oversight, data retention, fintech payments, fintech platform accountability, etc.
International Cooperation Imperative
With operations traced to foreign locations, global cooperation (Interpol, foreign law enforcement agencies) becomes crucial in extradition, asset freezing and tackling cross-border networks.

Related Cases & Trends

In Ahmedabad, three persons were arrested for extorting ₹11.42 crore through digital arrest scams.
In Bhopal, a 71-year-old lost ₹68.3 lakh after being pressured over weeks via video calls impersonating multiple agencies.
In Hyderabad, a tutor was defrauded of ₹7 lakh after scammers held her under “digital arrest.”
In Delhi, five men were arrested for duping an HR manager by posing as NCB agents and digital arresting her.

These show the pervasiveness and adaptability of the scheme across states and victim demographics.

Challenges for Enforcement & Prosecution

Attribution & Traceability
Attackers use forged documents, spoofed numbers, proxy servers and routing via foreign hubs, making tracing difficult.
Mule Account Identification
Many mule account holders are small-time participants or coerced themselves, complicating prosecution and assessment of liability.
Cross-Border Legal Hurdles
Extraditing suspects, freezing foreign accounts, or compelling foreign platform cooperation is procedurally heavy and slow.
Volume & Scalability
As such scams proliferate, the investigative burden may strain available cyber forensic and prosecutorial capacity.
Privacy & Data Access
Accessing communication logs, telecom metadata, and IP logs involves legal processes and judicial warrants — causing delay.

📌 What Citizens Must Know & Protective Measures

Real agencies never call and demand UPI/crypto payments or insist on staying on video indefinitely.
If contacted by officials, hang up and verify independently via official phone numbers listed on government websites.
Do not share OTPs, passwords, or digital signatures over calls or video.
Never reveal your Aadhaar, PAN, bank PIN or CVV on calls.
Be skeptical of unsolicited threats involving serious offences and legal actions.
Use strong privacy settings, block suspicious numbers, and report strange calls to cybercrime portals immediately.
Encourage awareness among elderly or vulnerable family members who are prime targets.