Elderly Retired AIIMS Surgeon Duped of ₹3 Crore in Digital Arrest Scam; Two Held, ₹2.2 Crore Recovered
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In a shocking case of digital fraud, a 92-year-old retired surgeon from AIIMS was allegedly cheated out of ₹3 crore by con artists who posed as officials from the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) and the Maharashtra Police.
The scam, which unfolded on March 12, involved a fake “digital arrest” scenario, authorities from the Delhi Police revealed on Wednesday.
Fortunately, swift action by the police led to the arrest of two suspects and the recovery of ₹2.2 crore from the defrauded amount.
The Scam: A Virtual Trial and Fake Charges
According to Deputy Commissioner of Police (IFSO) Hemant Tiwari, the victim, a resident of Greater Kailash, began receiving repeated calls from unknown numbers.
The first caller—a woman—claimed to be an officer from TRAI and informed the senior citizen that his phone number was allegedly linked to a money laundering case.
She then transferred the call to a second individual, who impersonated an officer from the Maharashtra Police.
This caller told the victim that he was under investigation and must not share any details with anyone, warning that even informing his family would make them liable for legal scrutiny.
To build credibility, the fraudsters fabricated court documents falsely indicating the surgeon’s involvement in multiple fraud cases. They then conducted what appeared to be a virtual trial, heightening the victim’s anxiety.
“After subjecting the elderly man to immense stress, the scammers finally offered a so-called way out,” said DCP Tiwari.
“They told him to transfer all his savings to three accounts supposedly regulated by SEBI, assuring that the money would be returned once he was cleared of the charges.”
Fearing arrest and reputational damage, the victim liquidated his fixed deposits and transferred nearly ₹3 crore to the specified accounts by March 15.
When he didn’t hear back from the imposters, he filed a complaint with the Intelligence Fusion & Strategic Operations (IFSO) unit of the Delhi Police Special Cell.
Investigation and Arrests
An investigation team led by ACP Vivekanand Jha, under DCP Tiwari’s supervision, launched a probe into the case. After scrutinizing the bank accounts used in the scam, the team tracked one suspect to Rajasthan.
A raid led to the arrest of Amit Sharma (42), who had opened the fraudulent bank accounts. His accomplice, Hari (27), was apprehended in Guwahati.
Further investigation revealed that Sharma had transferred the defrauded money to Hari, who in turn routed it to international fraud networks based in Nepal and Taiwan.
So far, police have recovered ₹2.2 crore, which has been returned to the victim. Investigations are ongoing to identify and apprehend other members of the international fraud ring.
Key Highlights:
- Victim: 92-year-old retired AIIMS surgeon.
- Scam: Fake digital arrest involving impersonation of TRAI and Maharashtra Police officials.
- Amount Lost: ₹3 crore.
- Recovered: ₹2.2 crore.
- Arrests Made: Two—one from Rajasthan, one from Guwahati.
- International Links: Funds traced to fraudsters in Nepal and Taiwan.
The Delhi Police has urged citizens, particularly senior citizens, to remain cautious of unsolicited calls and report any suspicious activity immediately.
