An 85-year-old retired engineering professor was allegedly duped of ₹9 crore by cyber fraudsters who placed him under a so-called “digital arrest” by impersonating law enforcement officials, police said on Wednesday.
The victim, a former head of department at an engineering college and a city resident, received a call on November 28 from a man posing as an inspector from Panchvati Police Station in Nashik.
The caller claimed the professor’s Aadhaar details had been misused to open a bank account involved in money laundering and transactions linked to the banned outfit Popular Front of India.
Days later, the victim received a WhatsApp video call from another man in police uniform who claimed an arrest warrant had been issued and warned him not to inform anyone.
Fearing arrest, the professor transferred his savings, including fixed deposits, mutual funds and investments, to multiple accounts for “verification”.
Between December 1 and 22, he transferred ₹9 crore. When the calls stopped, he realised the fraud and approached police. An investigation is underway.
