CBI raids 80 sites, arrests two in digital arrest scam

In a nationwide crackdown on a sophisticated cybercrime network, the Central Bureau of Investigation on Thursday conducted coordinated searches at more than 80 locations across 16 states, arresting two individuals linked to over 200 cases of "digital arrest" scams. The operation, codenamed Chakra-VI, targeted the financial and technical infrastructure used to defraud citizens by impersonating law enforcement and judicial authorities.

The CBI deployed 60 specialized teams across states including Punjab, Gujarat, Delhi, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Assam, and West Bengal. The agency arrested two men identified as B. Naresh from Chennai and Sanjib Saha from Kolkata. Officials allege the suspects were instrumental in creating a financial structure for the criminal network by incorporating shell companies and opening and operating "mule" bank accounts. These accounts were reportedly used to launder approximately 2 crore rupees (about $240,000) in suspected illicit proceeds.

A central element of the scam was a fraudulent website with a URL deceptively similar to the official Supreme Court of India website. According to the CBI, fraudsters used this domain to deceive victims...