GG News Bureau
Indore, 2nd June: In a shocking case of cyber fraud, Nandini Chiplunkar, a retired principal of a Central School, was duped of ₹1.02 crore in a sophisticated digital arrest scam. The con involved fraudsters impersonating officers from Mumbai’s Colaba Police and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), falsely accusing her of financial links with Jet Airways founder Naresh Goyal and alleged money laundering.
According to Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime Branch) Rajesh Dandotiya, the incident began on April 27, when Ms Chiplunkar received a call warning her that her SIM card would be deactivated. The callers claimed there were 267 FIRs registered against her and placed her under “digital arrest” — a manipulative tactic where the victim is kept continuously on the phone and psychologically isolated.
“They told her there was legal action pending and that she needed to cooperate to get the case closed. She was kept on the call throughout the night,” DCP Dandotiya said while speaking to ANI on Monday.
Under pressure, Ms Chiplunkar was persuaded to transfer ₹1 crore to a fraudulent account. The following day, the scammers convinced her to liquidate a fixed deposit worth ₹50 lakh. However, the alertness of the bank manager prevented a further loss.
“When she approached the bank to break the FD, the manager noticed her distress. He told her the server was down and asked her to return the next day. He then alerted us,” DCP Dandotiya stated.
Police intervened promptly and educated Ms Chiplunkar about the scam. She was able to safeguard her fixed deposit. However, she had already transferred over ₹1 crore to the fraudsters by that time.
“She switched off her phone, but the fraudsters contacted her again after two days. We met her personally and explained that digital arrest scams are fake,” added Dandotiya.
The Crime Branch has recorded Ms Chiplunkar’s statement and launched an investigation. While no formal FIR has been filed yet, efforts are underway to trace the perpetrators.
Digital arrest scams are a growing concern, with cybercriminals using high-pressure tactics to exploit fear and extract large sums from unsuspecting citizens. Authorities have urged the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious calls immediately.
