Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Crime Investigation Department (CID) has dismantled an interstate gang involved in a sophisticated cyber fraud scheme that placed victims under “digital arrest.” The scam came to light after a 66-year-old retired doctor, Dr. Ashok Kumar Behera, was defrauded of ₹1 crore by a scammer impersonating law enforcement and regulatory officials, a senior CID official confirmed on Thursday.
Dr. Behera, a former employee of MKCG Medical College and Hospital in Berhampur, reported the crime after being coerced into transferring his life savings. The fraudsters posed as officers from the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) and the Mumbai Cyber Crime Division, accusing him of criminal activities linked to an unknown mobile number linked to his Aadhaar card. The false charges included procurement of illegal arms, trafficking of MDM drugs, and issuing threatening calls in Maharashtra.
Under the pretext of investigating the matter, the scammers intimidated Dr. Behera through video calls, inducing extreme mental stress and depression. They persuaded him to transfer his funds into their account for “verification,” promising a refund afterward. Succumbing to the pressure, the retired doctor transferred ₹1 crore in two transactions.
Following the complaint, the CID tracked the digital trail of the transactions and other evidence, leading them to Nizamabad, Telangana. There, they apprehended Abdul Saleem (33), the prime suspect. Saleem was found with various incriminating items, including:
- A mobile phone, multiple SIM cards (Indian and Saudi),
- A State Bank of Hyderabad passbook, passport, Aadhaar card, PAN card, six debit cards, and one credit card.
Investigations revealed that Saleem had traveled to Saudi Arabia twice, in 2017 and 2024, and his account was linked to over 13 cybercrimes nationwide as confirmed by the National Cybercrime Reporting Portal (NCRP).
The accused is being presented before a local court in Telangana and will be brought to Odisha on transit remand. Meanwhile, a manhunt is underway to capture his accomplices, trace the full extent of the fraud across India, and follow the money trail.
The CID also issued a public advisory urging citizens to remain vigilant against online threats from scammers impersonating officials from law enforcement, regulatory authorities, or other agencies. “Report such incidents to the nearest police station without delay,” the advisory stated.
