Bareilly Cyber Swindler Arrested for Rs 69 Lakh ‘Digital Arrest’ Scam on Elderly Rishikesh Couple
Rishikesh, April 3, 2026 — The chilling new trend of “digital arrests” has claimed another set of victims, exposing just how ruthlessly cybercriminals are exploiting fear. The Uttarakhand Special Task Force (STF) has successfully arrested a Bareilly-based cyber thug who psychologically tortured and extorted a staggering ₹69 Lakh from an elderly couple in Rishikesh by keeping them under fake “digital arrest” for two straight months.
The accused, identified as Bhagwat Saran, was apprehended by the STF from Rudrapur. However, the details of the psychological manipulation inflicted upon the victims are truly harrowing.
The Two-Month ‘Digital Arrest’ Nightmare
According to STF officials, the scam began when the elderly couple received a highly convincing, threatening phone call. The fraudsters on the other end impersonated senior officers from the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Cyber Crime Cell.
To make the threat seem authentic, the scammers initiated video calls wearing fake uniforms and sitting in setups designed to look like official police stations. They falsely informed the couple that their bank accounts and identities were linked to a massive money-laundering and criminal syndicate.
Using fear as their primary weapon, the fake officers placed the elderly couple under a “digital arrest.” They ordered the victims to remain on continuous video surveillance, isolated them from their family, and explicitly threatened them with physical arrest and immediate property attachment if they disconnected the call or sought outside help.
Forced to Sell Their Property
The extortion did not stop at simply draining the couple’s bank accounts. Over the course of two torturous months, the relentless threats of jail time and public humiliation broke the victims down completely.
In a desperate bid to “clear their names” and avoid the fake legal trouble, the scammers forced the elderly couple to digitally transfer all their savings. When the cash ran out, the thugs aggressively coerced the couple into selling off their physical property, ultimately swindling them out of ₹69 Lakh.
STF Crackdown and Ongoing Hunt
Once the massive fraud finally came to light, the Uttarakhand STF launched a highly technical investigation, tracing the digital footprint and financial money trails left by the scammers. The probe led them to Rudrapur, where they successfully nabbed Bhagwat Saran, a native of Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, who played a key role in the syndicate.
While Saran is now behind bars, the STF has confirmed that the investigation is far from over. Authorities are currently conducting widespread raids to track down and arrest the remaining members of this highly organized cyber gang.
A Warning from Authorities: The police are strongly reiterating that no official law enforcement agency in India (including the CBI, ED, or local police) conducts “digital arrests” over Skype or WhatsApp. Officials never demand money transfers to “verify” accounts or clear criminal charges. If anyone receives such a call, they are urged to immediately disconnect and dial the national cybercrime helpline at 1930.