CBI searches 89 locations across 20 States in crackdown against “digital arrest” syndicates; 3 held
The CBI conducted raids across 20 Indian states as part of 'Operation Chakra-VI' to dismantle syndicates involved in 'digital arrest' scams. Three individuals were arrested for their roles in laundering millions of rupees extorted from victims through fraudulent digital impersonation.
Why it matters
The operation addresses the rising threat of sophisticated cyber-financial crimes that target individuals through long-term psychological manipulation.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has carried out searches at 89 locations across 20 States in connection with three major “digital arrest” scam cases as part of Operation Chakra-VI, arresting three persons so far.
The coordinated searches were aimed at tracing the proceeds of fraud and identifying the beneficiaries and handlers behind the syndicates, the agency said on Friday (September 4, 2026).
“The operations were meticulously planned on the basis of detailed financial and technical analysis, including examination of bank accounts and online account access data,” it said.
One of the cases pertains to BITS Pilani, where the victim was kept under “digital arrest” for three months, and ₹7.67 crore was extorted from him by scammers posing as police officers.
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