ED attaches Rs 16.86 lakh in ‘digital arrest’ cyber fraud case

Srinagar: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has provisionally attached Rs 16.86 lakh in a ‘digital arrest’ cyber fraud case involving impersonation of law enforcement agencies to extort money from a victim, officials said on Monday.
In a statement issued here on Monday a spokesperson said the Directorate of Enforcement (ED), Srinagar Zonal Office, has attached proceeds of crime amounting to rupees 16,86,465 under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002.
The spokesperson said the attached amount is lying in a bank account maintained in the name of M/s Jeevika Foundations with HDFC Bank, Karol Bagh, New Delhi. The account is operated by accused Gaurav Kumar, son of Jaipal Singh, who was found to be involved in a well-organised ‘digital arrest’ cyber fraud racket.
“ED initiated the investigation on the basis of FIR No. 26/2024 dated October 19, 2024, registered by Cyber Police Station, Kashmir Zone, along with a preliminary chargesheet filed before the Court of Chief Judicial Magistrate, Srinagar,” he said.
He said the investigation pertains to a cyber fraud in which innocent citizens were deceived through impersonation of officials from law enforcement and regulatory agencies.
The spokesperson further said that investigation revealed that the accused Gaurav Kumar, Gurpreet Singh and Ujwal Chauhan along with other associates, executed a well-planned fraud by impersonating officials of agencies such as TRAI and CBI.
“The victim was falsely informed that he was involved in a money laundering case linked to national security and was threatened with arrest. Under fear, coercion and psychological pressure, the victim was compelled to liquidate his fixed deposits and transfer funds,” he said.
“Accordingly, an amount of rupees 21,00,000 was fraudulently obtained from the victim and transferred to the bank account of M/s Jeevika Foundations, which acted as the primary beneficiary and conduit account. Out of the total defrauded amount, rupees 4,13,535 has already been refunded to the complainant pursuant to an order dated September 28, 2024, passed by the Court of Chief Judicial Magistrate, Srinagar,” the spokesperson added.
He further said that the remaining rupees 16,86,465, which is traceable in the said bank account, constitutes proceeds of crime under the PMLA, 2002, and has been provisionally attached under Section 5(1) of the Act. Further investigation in the case is underway