Belagavi, April 9, 2026:
In a major breakthrough, the Belagavi City Cyber Crime police have arrested two individuals from Hyderabad for allegedly cheating a senior citizen of ₹15.4 crore through a sophisticated “digital arrest” scam.
For more details : https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hubballi/senior-citizen-duped-of-rs-15-4-crore-in-digital-arrest-scam-two-held/articleshow/130120551.cms
The victim, Ajit Gopalakrishna Saraf, a resident of Tilakwadi in Belagavi, was targeted by fraudsters impersonating officials of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). One of the accused reportedly posed as a senior official and falsely claimed that Saraf was under investigation for alleged links to criminal activities.
The fraudsters intimidated the victim by stating that SIM cards registered in his name were being misused and threatened him with legal consequences. Under pressure, Saraf transferred large sums of money via RTGS transactions between February 7 and March 9, 2026.
During the investigation, police tracked the financial transactions and identified the accused as Venkadoth Sharath Nayak and Degavath Sripad Nayak, both residents of Hyderabad. Authorities revealed that a significant portion of the money, including ₹2 crore, was routed through their bank accounts.
The duo was arrested on April 6 and produced before a court on April 7. Police officials stated that the accused were initially uncooperative during questioning.
A case has been registered under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Information Technology Act. Further investigation is underway to trace the remaining funds and identify other possible accomplices.
Officials have urged citizens to remain cautious and verify the identity of individuals claiming to be law enforcement officers, especially in cases involving financial transactions.
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