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ED Nabs Third Suspect in Ludhiana Industrialist's Rs 7 Crore 'Digital Arrest' Scam
- •The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has made a third arrest, Sohel Akhtar alias Raju, in connection with the alleged 'digital arrest' money laundering case involving Ludhiana industrialist S P Oswal.
- •Akhtar was apprehended in Kolkata on September 28 and is currently in ED custody until October 6, following a special Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court order.
- •S P Oswal, chairman of Vardhman Group, was reportedly subjected to a 'digital arrest' in August 2023 by cybercriminals impersonating CBI officers and judiciary members, leading to a loss of Rs 7 crore.
- •A portion of the extorted funds was traced to Rigglo Ventures Pvt. Ltd., a company allegedly controlled by Akhtar, who is accused of providing mule bank accounts for diverting funds and receiving cryptocurrency commissions.
- •The ED had previously arrested Rumi Kalita and Arpit Rathore as part of this ongoing investigation into the 'digital arrest' scam, a cybercrime where criminals extort money by impersonating law enforcement.
Key Questions Answered
The Enforcement Directorate arrested Sohel Akhtar alias Raju in Kolkata for allegedly providing multiple mule bank accounts to foreign-based individuals to divert funds extorted from Vardhman Group chairman S P Oswal. Part of the money extorted from Oswal went to Rigglo Ventures Pvt. Ltd., a company controlled by Akhtar, who received commissions in cryptocurrency for his involvement.
S P Oswal, the chairman of Vardhman Group, was allegedly put under digital arrest in August 2023 and duped of Rs 7 crore by cyber criminals impersonating CBI officers and judiciary members.
The government has cautioned that digital arrests are illegal in India, advising victims to immediately seek help from local law enforcement and contact the national cybercrime helpline number 1930.