In yet another disturbing reminder of how sophisticated cyber-fraud continues to plague citizens across India, senior BJP leader and former Aligarh mayor Shakuntala Bharti has alleged that she and her husband were held under what she described as a “digital arrest” for three days by cyber-fraudsters posing as Delhi Police officials.
The scammers allegedly demanded ₹50 lakh to “settle” a fabricated financial fraud case.
Bharti said the ordeal began on November 3, when she received a WhatsApp call from a man pretending to be a Delhi Police officer.
The caller claimed her Aadhaar details had surfaced during an investigation in Mumbai, connected to a bank account involved in large suspicious transactions. He also warned that she could soon be arrested.
According to her complaint, the impostors kept her on continuous video calls for nearly three days, ordering her not to disclose the situation to anyone, claiming it was part of an “ongoing investigation.”
Over the next 48 hours, several individuals — also posing as law enforcement officers — contacted her from different numbers, feeding the same narrative. They later demanded ₹50 lakh to “dilute the case.”
Realising the ploy could escalate and fearing they could be further trapped, Bharti and her husband approached the Delhi Gate police station and filed a formal complaint.
Station House Officer Ravindra Kumar confirmed that a case has been registered and an investigation is underway.
Police are verifying the phone numbers, digital communication trail, and bank references used by the fraudsters.
This case underscores a troubling truth: even as cyber cells and digital vigilance units across the country intensify campaigns and operations against financial fraud, criminals continue to find new methods to manipulate technology, prey on trust, and extort the unsuspecting — often leaving victims financially and emotionally drained.
Authorities have urged the public to remain vigilant, verify all official communication, and avoid sharing sensitive personal or financial details with unknown callers, particularly when contacted via internet-based calls or messaging platforms.
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