Mumbai: The West Regional Cyber Police have arrested one Parshuram Jagtap, 35, in a digital arrest case in which an elderly man from Juhu, a retired government official, was allegedly defrauded of Rs 1.27 crore. The fraudsters impersonated former ACP Daya Nayak and threatened the victim with arrest, said police. Police said Jagtap was accused of providing bank accounts to cyber fraudsters. He was arrested and produced in court. Police said the victim was threatened and told that his name had cropped up in a Rs 75 lakh fraud case. The caller also said his family could be attacked and his son could lose his job. Last Oct, the complainant received a call from a person named Sandeep Rao, who claimed to be an officer from the Ashok Nagar police station in Bangaluru.The caller told the complainant that someone was arrested in a money laundering case and that an ATM passbook belonging to the complainant was found with the arrested person. He said a fraud of Rs 75 lakh was committed in the complainant’s name and that an inquiry was being conducted.He also said Delhi Police and CBI officers were conducting a parallel investigation. The complainant was told not to disclose any information until the inquiry was complete, citing confidentiality and national interest.The caller instructed him to stay alone in a room and cooperate with the investigation, and told him that “CBI officer Daya Nayak was conducting the inquiry”.The complainant later spoke with a man who posed as “CBI officer Daya Nayak”. The imposter showed him an FIR and arrest warrant via video call, which frightened the complainant. The fraudster threatened to freeze his bank accounts.Police said the complainant was told that since he was a senior citizen, he would not be arrested immediately, but strict action would be taken if he did not cooperate with the investigation. During this time, someone else called him.During the inquiry, the imposter who posed as Daya Nayak and other officers instructed him to provide his bank account details and transfer the money to another account. He was told that his account was being investigated as per a Supreme Court order and that the money had to be transferred to another account.Believing this, he deposited Rs 1.27 crore. He was told the amount would be returned after the inquiry was over, but in vain. Realising he was scammed, he approached the West Regional Cyber Police and a case was registered. During investigation, police obtained crucial information based on which they took Parshuram into custody.
