Ex-Bank of Baroda officer digitally arrested over money laundering claim, duped of ₹64.41 lakh

In yet another case of digital arrest related to money laundering  in Vadodara, a retired bank officer has lost ₹64.41 lakh. The cyber cell has registered a complaint in this matter and initiated an investigation into the bank accounts where the money was transferred.

Vivekanand, a 67-year-old retired  Bank of Baroda employee from the Makarpura Road area, said, “I received a call from a person claiming that my Aadhar Card has been used to activate SIM cards in a money laundering case. The caller introduced me to Vishal Thakur, who was said to be my investigating officer.”

Thakur claimed that bank accounts were opened in his name in various states, including Punjab, Haryana, and Tamil Nadu. He also mentioned that Vivekananda’s name had been mentioned in a fraud case involving a Canara Bank officer.

In the middle of the conversation, a video call was initiated. Thakur told him that since he was a senior citizen and a retired bank officer, they would protect his dignity if he cooperated with the inquiry.

He added that an arrest was inevitable, but an online investigation could be started. After that, they began asking for details about his bank accounts, deposits, and properties.

The retired officer said that later, he received forged letters from the CBI and RBI, which instructed him to transfer certain amounts via RTGS. 

Over a period of 18 days, he made four transactions, transferring a total of ₹64.41 lakh. However, when the fraudsters started demanding more money, he grew suspicious and informed the cyber cell.

Video call continued for 18 days 

The retired officer told the police that he was asked to remain on a video call every morning. For 18 days, he was kept under constant watch via video. All his activities were monitored. Even when he stepped outside, he had to inform the fraudsters. They also tracked the details of calls he received on his phone, and even obtained information about his vehicle.