Gadag doctor held in 22-hour 'digital arrest' by cyber fraud gang
Gadag: In a disturbing case of cybercrime, a private doctor from Mulagund town in Karnataka’s Gadag district was subjected to a 22-hour-long digital arrest by a gang of cyber fraudsters posing as officials from a national investigative agency.
The incident took place on June 11 when Dr. S.C. Chavadi received a video call at 3:07 PM from individuals claiming to be officers of the "National Investigation Authority of India." They falsely accused him of being involved in a large-scale money laundering case via a Canara Bank account and claimed that a criminal case had been registered in his name at the Kaloba Police Station in Mumbai.
Despite Dr. Chavadi not having any account with Canara Bank, the fraudsters alleged that an arrest warrant had been issued against him. They instructed him to gather and share details of all his financial and property-related documents and warned him that he was under active investigation. To lend credibility to their claims, they even showed him the name and photograph of a local police officer from Mulagund.
In what is now being described as a digital arrest, Dr. Chavadi was kept under psychological pressure through continuous video calls for nearly 22 hours. An individual claiming to be an Inspector named Vijaykumar initially interrogated him and justified the remote questioning due to the doctor’s age. He was warned to remain silent about the matter and act normally with his family, as dangerous criminals, allegedly led by one Naresh Goyal, were "monitoring" him and could be near his home.
The next day around noon, another person claiming to be DCP Dayanayak resumed the video interrogation, telling Dr. Chavadi that the matter would be taken to the Supreme Court and that he would eventually need to appoint legal representation.
The ordeal ended only when locals, sensing something was wrong, alerted the police and rushed to Dr. Chavadi’s residence. Upon their arrival, they attempted to force open the door, prompting Dr. Chavadi to unlock it. As soon as a local police officer, CPI Sangamesh Shivayogi, began speaking over video call, the fraudsters abruptly terminated the call and vanished.
A formal complaint has been registered at the Gadag Cyber Crime Police Station, and investigations are ongoing.
CPI Shivayogi urged citizens not to fall prey to such digital arrests, which are emerging as a new form of cyber intimidation. “People must remain calm and report any suspicious digital communication to the nearest police station immediately. Never share personal information or documents over video calls from unknown sources,” he said.
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UP: Fake IAS officer marries woman, flees with Rs 15 lakh dowry
Gorakhpur (UP) (PTI): A newly married man fled with the Rs 15 lakh given to him as dowry by the bride's family, and it came to light later that he was an alleged serial scammer, police said on Sunday.
The accused, identified as Pritam Kumar Nishad from Etawah, allegedly posed as an IAS officer to deceive the woman into marrying him. He is currently absconding with his sister, and a case has been filed against him for cheating, dowry harassment, and forgery, officials said.
According to the police, the woman's family claimed that they spent nearly Rs 30 lakh for the wedding that was solemnised on March 11.
The match was arranged through a matrimonial group, where the accused introduced himself as an IAS officer, sharing purported interview clips, office visuals, and photographs with politicians to gain the family's trust.
Despite initially claiming he would marry without dowry, the accused allegedly demanded Rs 15 lakh shortly before the engagement. The bride's family paid Rs 10 lakh in cash during the engagement and the remaining Rs 5 lakh on the wedding day, the police said.
The fraud came to light on Saturday after the woman reached Etawah, and a wedding attendee informed the family that the accused was not a civil servant. When her relatives visited the address provided by him, they found her in a small rented room, while the accused and his sister had fled, the police added.
The woman has also alleged that the accused planned to take her to Goa and sell her, and accused him of inappropriate behaviour.
The police suspect that the accused may have been involved in multiple such marriages in the past. Based on a complaint lodged at the cantonment police station, an FIR was registered on Saturday evening.
Senior Superintendent of Police Dr Kaustubh said efforts are underway to arrest the accused.
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