Mumbai: The Charkop Police have arrested two fraudsters who posed as a police officer and a lawyer to cheat an elderly woman in Kandivali. The accused, Bhagataram Devashi and Kamlesh Chaudhary, extorted Rs 9.75 lakh from the 71-year-old victim by threatening her with a 'digital arrest.'
Details On The Fraud
The ordeal began on January 15 when the woman received a video call from an unknown individual claiming her bank account was linked to a large financial scam. The caller warned her that the account would soon be frozen and that legal action had been initiated against her. In fear, she was told that an inquiry would take place at her home, and if found guilty, she would be 'digitally arrested.'
Soon after, another person contacted her, urging her to cooperate. The two accused introduced themselves as a police officer and a lawyer, assuring her they could help resolve the case but demanding money in return. According to a Lokmat Times report, they provided bank account details and convinced her to transfer Rs 9.75 lakh, promising that the money would be refunded after the inquiry.
Under pressure and fearing legal trouble, the woman complied. However, after the transaction, the accused neither conducted an inquiry nor returned the money. Realizing she had been scammed, she informed her family, who advised her to file a police complaint. She later registered an online complaint through the Mumbai Police’s official portal.
Case Filed With Charkop Police
Based on her report, the Charkop Police registered a case under fraud and cybercrime sections of the IT Act. A special operation was launched to trace the suspects, who had been on the run for two months. Eventually, Bhagataram Devashi and Kamlesh Chaudhary were apprehended and presented before the Borivali local court, which remanded them to police custody. Local police are now investigating whether the duo was involved in other similar fraud cases.
