Digital Arrest Terror: Ahmedabad Court Rejects Bail for Mastermind in Rs 19.24 Crore Fraud Targeting 75-Year-Old Doctor

AHMEDABAD — The Ahmedabad Rural CBI Court on Tuesday rejected the permanent bail plea of Mohammad Asif, a key accused arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation in a massive "digital arrest" cyber fraud case. Asif and his accomplices allegedly posed as Supreme Court representatives, CBI officers, and Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) officials to extort Rs 19.24 crore from a 75-year-old female gynaecologist based in Gandhinagar.

Presiding over the case, CBI Judge S.S. Prajapat dismissed the bail application, noting the extreme severity of the crime and the devastating financial blow dealt to a senior citizen. The court highlighted that nationwide occurrences of digital arrest scams are escalating rapidly, adding that granting bail to an accused directly linked to such organized cyber terror would be against the interests of justice.

The 3-Month 'Digital Arrest' Ordeal and Rs 19.24 Crore Extortion

The high-profile extortion began on 15 March, when the 75-year-old doctor received an intimidating phone call. Impersonating officials from the Supreme Court, CBI, TRAI, and law enforcement agencies, the cyber fraudsters threatened her with immediate arrest under terrorism-related charges, falsely claiming that obscene content had been uploaded using her mobile number.

Over the course of three months, the fraudsters placed the senior doctor under prolonged psychological duress. Under the pretext of conducting an official "verification" drive, the criminals forced her to disclose complete details of her bank accounts, fixed deposits, gold reserves, and stock holdings, compelling her to liquidate her assets and transfer Rs 19.24 crore across multiple bank accounts with false promises that the money would be refunded post-investigation.

CBI Evidence Uncovers Direct Link and APK Access

Opposing the bail plea, the CBI submitted crucial physical and digital evidence seized during a raid at Mohammad Asif's residential premises. The court noted that investigators recovered a mobile phone containing an extensive log of banking credentials, including bank account numbers, IFSC codes, usernames, and passwords used in the laundering operation.

Court findings and key evidence highlighted by Judge S.S. Prajapat:

• Direct Role Established: Forensic analysis revealed the presence of malicious APK files used to intercept SMS messages and OTPs linked to registered bank accounts.
• Targeting Senior Citizens: The court observed that the fraudsters preyed on a vulnerable senior citizen, robbing her of her entire life savings.
• Systemic Threat: Recognizing the nationwide surge in impersonation-based cyber terror, the court ruled out leniency given the gravity of the offense.

With the bail application rejected, the CBI is continuing its broader probe to map out the international links and money laundering channels tied to the multi-crore cyber syndicate.