Bengaluru: A city court has rejected anticipatory bail pleas filed by two accused from Andhra Pradesh in connection with a Rs 4.91 crore “digital arrest” scam, observing that such frauds are becoming increasingly rampant and impacting the country’s economy.
The 64th Additional City Civil and Sessions Court denied relief to Mattigunta Ravi Kiran and Vaidu Sanath, partners of a firm based in Guntur district, who are alleged to have received a portion of the defrauded money.
Court cites prima facie case
Presiding judge Mala ND held that there was sufficient prima facie material against the accused at this stage of investigation.
The court noted that granting anticipatory bail could hamper the probe and make it difficult for the investigating agency to secure the accused for questioning.
The accused had argued that they were innocent and claimed their bank accounts may have been misused through hacking or phishing activities.
How the ‘digital arrest’ scam unfolded
According to the prosecution, the complainant, SR Raj Gopalan, approached the cyber police after being duped over a period of nearly two months.
The fraud began on December 2, 2025, when Gopalan received a call from an unknown person claiming that a human trafficking case had been registered against him at a police station in Ballari.
Shortly after, he received another call from a person identifying himself as a police officer, who claimed the case had been transferred to the Central Bureau of Investigation.
The caller asked Gopalan to share his Aadhaar details via WhatsApp, which he complied with. He was then sent a fake FIR and subjected to multiple video calls by individuals posing as law enforcement officials.
Victim coerced into transfers
During these calls, the fraudsters allegedly claimed that Gopalan was under “digital arrest” and instructed him not to contact anyone for several hours.
They threatened legal consequences and warned that the matter could escalate to the Supreme Court of India if he failed to cooperate.
Under pressure, Gopalan and his wife transferred money in multiple instalments between December 17 and February 23.
The amounts included Rs 95.22 lakh, Rs 76 lakh, Rs 1.02 crore, Rs 23 lakh, and Rs 1.38 crore—totalling Rs 4.91 crore—into various bank accounts allegedly linked to the accused.
Money trail and investigation
Investigators found that Rs 1.38 crore from the total amount had been transferred to an account associated with the accused persons’ firm.
This financial trail formed a key part of the prosecution’s argument against granting bail.
The court observed that the nature of the offence and the scale of the fraud warranted a thorough investigation without interference.
Rising concern over cyber frauds
The court also highlighted the growing prevalence of such scams, noting that fraudulent tactics like “digital arrest” are targeting vulnerable individuals and causing significant financial losses.
Authorities have repeatedly warned the public against sharing personal information or transferring money based on unsolicited calls claiming to be from law enforcement agencies.
Conclusion
With the rejection of anticipatory bail, the court has allowed investigators to proceed without constraints in tracing the full extent of the scam and identifying other possible links.
Officials have urged citizens to remain cautious and report suspicious calls promptly to cybercrime authorities.