Lucknow Police have uncovered a disturbing case of cybercrime involving a retired Principal Private Secretary of Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences (SGPGI), Dinesh Prakash Pradhan. The 65-year-old officer was allegedly held in a “digital arrest” for five days by fraudsters posing as senior police officials. During this period, he was coerced into transferring nearly Rs 50 lakh across multiple states under the false pretext of being linked to terror financing.
The scam has shocked residents of the state capital, as it highlights how even experienced former bureaucrats can be manipulated through fear, fabricated documents, and psychological pressure.
According to the FIR lodged at PGI police station, the ordeal began on August 18, when Pradhan received a call from a woman identifying herself as Inspector Anita Verma. She claimed a criminal case had been registered against him in Pahalgam, Jammu & Kashmir, alleging that his Aadhaar number had been used to funnel money to terrorist groups.
To reinforce the deception, the caller shared a forged case number and a fake arrest warrant image via WhatsApp, warning that a police team was en route to arrest him.
On August 19, the harassment escalated when another caller, posing as “Officer Deepak Sharma”, informed Pradhan that he was part of a Rs 70 crore terror funding case. The fraudster claimed that ₹70 lakh—10% of the alleged terror funds, had been deposited in Pradhan’s account as commission.
He threatened that unless Pradhan returned the money immediately, the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) would arrest him and his children would face dire consequences.
Panicked and fearing both arrest and harm to his family, Pradhan followed their instructions and began transferring money.
Police investigations revealed that the victim made three major transfers over five days:
August 19: Rs 20 lakh transferred from his Bank of India (SGPGI branch) account to Taramani Enterprises at UCO Bank, Bhadrak (Odisha).
August 20: Rs 14 lakh transferred to Buddha Yoga Health Foundation at IndusInd Bank, Guntur (Andhra Pradesh).
August 22: Rs 16 lakh transferred to an account under Sanjay Santram Sun Bodhkar at ICICI Bank, Panda branch.
By August 29, the fraudsters were still threatening Pradhan, demanding further payments. Unable to withstand the psychological torture, he finally approached police and narrated the ordeal.
Following his complaint, PGI police station registered a case under charges of fraud, extortion, and criminal conspiracy. The Cyber Crime Cell has been roped in, and authorities are coordinating with inter-state banks to freeze accounts linked to the fraudulent transfers.
Investigators are also analysing call records, WhatsApp messages, and forged documents shared by the scammers to trace their digital footprint. Police sources suspect the gang may be part of a larger interstate or even international cyber racket.
Police emphasised that sensitive personal details such as Aadhaar numbers, bank accounts, or OTPs should never be shared over phone calls, regardless of how authentic the caller may sound.
The concept of a “digital arrest” is becoming one of the most dangerous cybercrime trends in India. In such cases, scammers impersonate police or enforcement agencies, threatening victims with fabricated legal cases and forcing them to remain isolated, often under video surveillance, while extorting large sums of money.
Recently, similar scams have been reported in Delhi, Bengaluru, and Mumbai, with victims ranging from businessmen to retired professionals. Experts say the criminals exploit the psychological fear of law enforcement, making educated and experienced individuals equally vulnerable.
Authorities say that the success of such scams lies in their careful blending of real legal language with forged digital documents. The mention of Pahalgam was deliberately chosen to heighten the victim’s fear.
The Rs 50 lakh Lucknow digital arrest scam is not just an isolated case but part of a rising wave of cybercrimes exploiting fear, misinformation, and digital manipulation. As police widen the probe, experts stress the urgent need for stronger public awareness, tighter digital safeguards, and cross-border cyber enforcement.
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