Guwahati, October 7 (Daily Kiran) : The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has temporarily seized approximately ₹2.12 crore from 43 bank accounts in connection with a cyber fraud case involving the alleged ‘digital arrest’ of a senior citizen in Guwahati. Authorities announced the seizure on Wednesday.
The ED’s regional office in Guwahati issued a temporary attachment order under Section 5(1) of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002. The seized funds were located in accounts belonging to Axis Bank, Bank of India, Bandhan Bank, IndusInd Bank, Punjab National Bank, and State Bank of India.
This investigation began after a First Information Report (FIR) was filed at the Guwahati Cyber Police Station by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), citing various provisions of the Indian Penal Code, 2023, and the Information Technology Act, 2000, against unidentified cyber fraudsters.
The inquiry revealed that between September and December 2025, the suspects impersonated officials from the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), the Mumbai Crime Branch, and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). They allegedly contacted the victim via WhatsApp video call, falsely claiming that a bank account linked to the victim’s Aadhaar card was involved in money laundering.
The senior citizen was reportedly subjected to a ‘digital arrest,’ shown fabricated court proceedings, and presented with a fake ‘digital arrest warrant.’ The fraudsters threatened the victim with detention under the National Security Act if the matter was disclosed.
They allegedly demanded money under the pretext of an ‘RBI inspection’ and subsequently a ‘bail bond,’ coercing the victim to transfer nearly ₹2.13 crore through 19 transactions.
According to the ED, the funds were funneled through numerous fake bank accounts operated by individuals, firms, and companies across the country. The money was converted into cash and digital currency, sent via payment gateways, and transferred to other accounts to erase traces of the crime.
The agency has identified 43 bank accounts linked to the fraud and has temporarily seized them to prevent further misuse of the funds. The investigation is ongoing.
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