New Delhi | Updated: June 25, 2026
The Central Bureau of Investigation on Thursday carried out searches at over 80 locations across 16 states as part of a major nationwide crackdown on a pan-India digital arrest scam network.
The operation, codenamed Operation Chakra-VI, involved around 60 specialized CBI teams conducting coordinated raids in several states, including Punjab, Gujarat, Assam, and Manipur. According to officials, the network is linked to more than 200 cases of cyber-enabled fraud across the country.
The CBI said digital arrest scams have become a major form of cyber extortion. In such cases, fraudsters impersonate police officers, officials of central agencies, or judicial authorities to threaten victims with arrest or prosecution. Victims are falsely linked to criminal activities and then forced to transfer money to avoid legal action.
A key part of the investigation involves a fake website with a URL closely resembling the official website of the Supreme Court of India. The agency said fraudsters allegedly used the website to deceive victims in the name of “digital arrest.”
Based on a complaint received from the Registry of the Supreme Court of India, the CBI registered an FIR and launched an investigation.
During the crackdown, the agency arrested two accused—B. Naresh from Chennai and Sanjib Saha from Kolkata. Investigators believe the two were allegedly part of a larger network involved in cheating people through impersonation, intimidation, and technological deception.
According to the CBI, the accused helped create a financial setup to hide the movement of illegal funds. They allegedly used shell companies and mule bank accounts to launder around ₹2 crore suspected to be proceeds of crime.
Investigators also found that the fraudsters allegedly created forged documents resembling official court orders, warrants, and notices. These fake documents were uploaded on the fraudulent website to make the threats appear genuine and to pressure victims into paying money.
The CBI said advanced forensic tools and technical expertise were used to identify parts of the criminal infrastructure operating both in India and abroad.
During the searches, officials seized mobile phones, digital devices, banking records, and other material. The seized items are being examined as part of the ongoing investigation.
The agency said a further probe is underway to identify more members of the network and trace the money trail linked to the digital arrest scam.
