The Cyber Crime Police Station Goa has arrested a 32-year-old man in connection with a major “digital arrest” cyber fraud case involving Rs 60 lakh, officials said on Saturday.
The accused has been identified as Akshay Suresh Nikam, from Satara, Maharashtra.
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According to police, the case, registered on February 20, under relevant provisions of the BharatiyaNyayaSanhita (BNS) and Section 66-D of the Information Technology Act, was based on a complaint filed by a Panjim resident who was allegedly duped through impersonation and online threats.
According to police, the accused and his associates contacted the complainant via WhatsApp, falsely accusing him of financial wrongdoing. The victim was then approached by other the accused posing as officials from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Mumbai, and a magistrate. They claimed the complainant’s identity was linked to a money laundering case and placed him under “digital surveillance” through video calls.
Under pressure and fear of legal consequences, the complainant was coerced into transferring Rs 60 lakh via RTGS into two ICICI Bank accounts provided by the fraudsters.
Following a detailed technical investigation, police traced one suspect to Satara in Maharashtra. A team led by PSI Anil Polekar apprehended the accused, identified as Akshay Suresh Nikam (32), a resident of Patantaluka in Satara district.
Investigators revealed that Rs 46 lakh of the defrauded amount had been routed through the accused’s bank account before being transferred to multiple associates. Further probe indicated that the same account was linked to at least 12 other cyber fraud cases across several states, including Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Goa, involving a cumulative amount of approximately Rs 3.10 crore.
The accused has been produced before the court, and police are seeking custody for further interrogation. The investigation is being led by PI Deepak Pednekar under the supervision of ASP B V Sridevi and SP Cyber Crime Raju Raut Desai.
Officials have urged citizens to remain cautious of impersonation calls and report suspicious online activity promptly as the investigation continues.
