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Reel creator held in ₹10.74 crore ‘digital arrest’ fraud
During the investigation, police found that the money had been routed through an extensive network of bank accounts. A total of 5,436 accounts have so far emerged in the money trail, while police have managed to freeze ₹1.34 crore.
PUNE: Cyber police have arrested a 26-year-old social media reel creator who allegedly played a key role in a “digital arrest” fraud in which an 82-year-old Pune resident was cheated of ₹10.74 crore. Investigators have traced the money through 5,436 bank accounts and uncovered the accused’s alleged links with suspected cyber-fraud operators in Hong Kong, police said on Wednesday.
The accused has been identified as Rohan Rameshwar Jadhav of Pimple Gurav and hailing from Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar.
According to the police, unidentified fraudsters contacted the senior citizen between January 23 and January 31, posing as CBI officials. They allegedly told him that he was involved in a criminal case and threatened him with “digital arrest”. Under the pretext of helping him avoid arrest, the fraudsters allegedly induced him to transfer ₹10,74,65,000 to multiple bank accounts.
The victim approached Pune Cyber Police after realising that he had been cheated. During the investigation, police found that the money had been routed through an extensive network of bank accounts. A total of 5,436 accounts have so far emerged in the money trail, while police have managed to freeze ₹1.34 crore, according to officials.
Investigators found that the victim transferred ₹75 lakh to a bank account on January 30. Of this amount, ₹6.50 lakh was subsequently transferred to three other accounts. The investigation led to the arrests of three alleged operatives — Harshad Dhantole, Samarth Deshmukh and Amar Shivaji Attergi — in February and March. Police said Dhantole allegedly withdrew money from ATMs and handed it over to Jadhav, leading investigators to suspect that Jadhav was a key coordinator in the racket.
Police also found 29 cyber-fraud complaints linked to bank accounts allegedly used by the accused.
Swapnali Shinde, inspector, Pune Cyber Cell, said Jadhav holds a BSc degree and had been living in Pimple Nilakh since 2022.
“He was known on social media as Rohan Jadhav and worked as a reel creator,” Shinde said.
The investigation has also revealed an alleged Hong Kong connection. Police said Jadhav came into contact with people in Hong Kong through Telegram and communicated with them via video calls. Investigators suspect that financial transactions were carried out using USDT, a stablecoin, and that Jadhav received a commission for facilitating the transfer of money from India into foreign currency.
Police are investigating Jadhav’s alleged links with international cyber-fraud operators and examining the money trail involving thousands of bank accounts.
