New Delhi – An elderly NRI doctor couple in Delhi became victims of an elaborate digital arrest scam that resulted in the loss of nearly ₹14 crore, their entire life savings. Om Taneja, 81, and his wife Indira Taneja, 77, both medical professionals who returned to India from the United States in 2015, were confined to their Greater Kailash II residence for 16 days while fraudsters subjected them to relentless mental torture and surveillance. This digital arrest scam represents one of the most prolonged and financially devastating cases of cyber fraud reported in the national capital.
Initial Contact and Threatening Claims
The digital arrest scam began on December 24, 2025, when Indira Taneja received a call from individuals identifying themselves as officials from the Telecom Regulatory Authority. The fraudsters claimed that 26 complaints had been filed against her phone number, alleging it was being used for illegal activities and sending obscene messages. This initial contact set the stage for what would become a harrowing digital arrest scam lasting over two weeks.
“They told me that the couple was involved in a money laundering case, which had become a matter of ‘national security,'” Indira recounted. The sophisticated digital arrest scam exploited the couple’s fear, particularly given that Om had recently undergone surgery and his health was being monitored by doctors.
Escalation Through Fake Law Enforcement
The digital arrest scam intensified when fraudsters threatened that officers from Mumbai’s Colaba police station would contact the couple. Shortly thereafter, a man posing as officer “Vikrant Singh Rajput” connected with Indira via video call, adding perceived legitimacy to the digital arrest scam. The impersonator claimed the couple held bank accounts at Canara Bank in Mumbai, which Indira denied, explaining they only maintained joint accounts.
The perpetrators of this digital arrest scam then linked the couple’s supposed case to the high-profile Naresh Goyal money laundering investigation, further pressuring the victims by associating them with a nationally recognized financial crime case. This tactic is common in digital arrest scam operations, where fraudsters reference real cases to intimidate victims.
Constant Surveillance and Isolation
Throughout the 16-day digital arrest scam, the fraudsters maintained continuous surveillance over the couple through video calls and messages. “They made me write letters to the Supreme Court and other agencies, and told us not to talk to anyone,” Indira revealed. This isolation tactic is a hallmark of digital arrest scam methodology, designed to prevent victims from seeking outside help or verification.
The couple’s friends, lawyers, and relatives attempted to contact them throughout the Christmas and New Year period, but the digital arrest scam perpetrators forbade any communication. “My friends, lawyers, relatives kept calling me from Christmas till New Year, but we were not allowed to talk,” Indira stated, highlighting the complete control fraudsters exercised during this digital arrest scam.
Monitored Communications With Family
Even when the couple was permitted to speak with their children in the United States, the digital arrest scam operators monitored every conversation. “The suspects monitored all our voice and text conversations, and kept threatening us not to talk to anyone,” Indira explained. This level of surveillance demonstrates the sophisticated nature of modern digital arrest scam operations, where fraudsters maintain psychological control through constant monitoring.
Financial Devastation and Coerced Transfers
The financial impact of this digital arrest scam proved catastrophic for the retired doctors. Over 16 days, the couple was coerced into transferring their entire life savings, including fixed deposits and mutual funds, totaling approximately ₹14 crore. Police confirmed that eight separate transactions were made to seven different bank accounts controlled by the digital arrest scam perpetrators.
The couple transferred funds accumulated over decades of medical practice and prudent savings, believing they were protecting themselves from prosecution and potential imprisonment. This digital arrest scam exploited their vulnerability, medical concerns, and unfamiliarity with such sophisticated fraud schemes.
Threats and Intimidation Tactics
The digital arrest scam operators employed various intimidation tactics to maintain control. When the couple’s driver arrived at their residence with X-ray reports, it angered the fraudsters. “They said we could not have anyone in the house or there could be serious consequences,” Indira recalled. This incident illustrates how the digital arrest perpetrators enforced complete isolation, threatening severe repercussions for any deviation from their instructions.
National Security Narrative
Central to this digital arrest was the repeated invocation of “national security threats.” The fraudsters weaponized this concept, warning that the couple’s life was in danger and that their case involved matters of national importance. This psychological manipulation tactic made the digital arrest scam particularly effective, as victims feared both legal prosecution and physical harm.
Also Read: Umar Khalid: MEA’s Sharp Response To NYC Mayor’s Controversial Letter
Police Investigation Underway
Delhi Police have registered an FIR with the Special Cell and launched an investigation into this elaborate digital arrest. However, police officials stated they have yet to identify the suspects behind the fraud. The sophisticated nature of this digital arrest scam, involving multiple perpetrators, fake identities, coordination across different communication platforms, and numerous bank accounts, presents significant investigative challenges.
Social Impact and Community Involvement
The victims of this digital arrest were respected members of their community, actively involved in social work since returning to India. Their professional background as doctors and their engagement in community service made them unlikely targets in conventional thinking, yet the digital arrest scam proved that no demographic is immune to such sophisticated cyber fraud operations.
