An elderly doctor couple living in south Delhi’s Greater Kailash was allegedly duped of ₹14.85 crore after cybercriminals kept them under what police described as a “digital arrest” for more than two weeks, officials said on Saturday.
The fraud allegedly took place between December 24 and January 9, during which the accused impersonated officials from law enforcement agencies and pressured the couple into transferring large sums of money to multiple bank accounts, according to the police cited by PTI news agency.
An e-FIR was registered on Saturday, and the cybercrime unit of Delhi Police has launched an investigation, the report added.
Posed as cops, said ‘number will be disconnected’
Recounting the ordeal, victim Indira Taneja said the first call came on December 24 around noon. “On December 24, around noon, I received a call from someone claiming to be from TRAI, saying my number would be disconnected due to obscene calls and complaints,” she said.
She added that the caller accused her of money laundering and claimed that an FIR and arrest warrants had been issued in Maharashtra. “They connected me to a man in a police uniform on a video call,” she said.
Taneja said banners reading “Collaba police” were visible behind the fraudsters, which further made their story seem believable.
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According to her, the man on the video call alleged that a Canara Bank account in her name had been used in a major fraud linked to national security.
Police said the couple, both doctors, had returned from the United States and had been residing in Greater Kailash since 2016. Their children are settled abroad, a factor investigators believe was exploited by the accused.
According to the complaint, the cybercriminals threatened and forced them to stay on continuous phone and video calls for days at a stretch.
‘Matter of national security’
“He said that since I was saying I had come from America to serve India, this was a matter of national security. If I was involved in this, I would have to come to Bombay and would be arrested,” she said.
Taneja told the callers that travelling was not possible as her husband was recovering from surgery at AIIMS. “I told him I could not come to Bombay because my husband had undergone surgery and was under treatment. He was being treated by AIIMS doctors, was still on antibiotics, and was walking with a walker. There was no one else with us, so how could we manage anything,” she said.
When the couple refused travelling, the accused then suggested an alternative. “They said there was another way. They said they would keep verifying me and would release me quickly. They said that just like bail, even during bail verification continues, and that they would fully release me after verification. But until then, verification was necessary,” she said.The couple alleged they were instructed not to contact anyone during this period.
Fraud detected after calls stopped
Police said the fraud came to light only after the calls abruptly stopped on January 9, following which the couple approached the authorities.
Despite repeatedly informing the callers about their medical condition and lack of support, the pressure continued, Taneja said, eventually resulting in a loss of ₹14.85 crore.
Delhi Police said the investigation is ongoing and efforts are being made to trace the bank accounts and individuals involved in the alleged scam.The case of a retired NRI doctor couple in Delhi's Greater Kailash area is one of the most staggering examples of "digital arrest" fraud in India. Between December 24, 2025, and January 9, 2026, the couple was psychologically imprisoned and siphoned of ₹14.85 crore (nearly ₹15 crore) in a sophisticated operation that exploited their isolation and trust.
The Ordeal: How it Unfolded
The Initial Hook: On Christmas Eve, Indira Taneja received a call from someone posing as a TRAI (Telecom Regulatory Authority of India) official. They claimed her phone number was being used for "obscene calls" and that 26 complaints had been filed against her.
The Escort to "Police": The scammers then transferred the call to a man in a police uniform over video, posing as an officer from Mumbai's Colaba Police Station.
The "National Security" Angle: The couple was told their bank accounts were linked to a massive money-laundering case and terror funding involving a high-profile individual (specifically mentioning "Naresh Goyal"). They were told it was a "matter of national security" and they must not tell anyone, including their children who were abroad.
15 Days of "Digital Arrest": For over two weeks, the couple was kept on continuous video surveillance. Scammers monitored their movements, even watching them via video call when they stepped out. The victims were coerced into transferring life savings in multiple installments (ranging from ₹2 crore to ₹2.5 crore) for "verification" by the Reserve Bank of India.
The Reveal: On January 10, the scammers told them to visit a local police station to collect their "refund" and release order. It was only then, upon speaking to actual police, that the couple realized they had been duped.
Red Flags: Why This Scam Succeeds
Impersonation & Uniforms: Scammers used professional backdrops and uniforms to mimic actual police stations.
Exploiting Vulnerability: The couple's children were abroad, and the husband was recovering from surgery at AIIMS, leaving them physically and emotionally isolated.
Threat of Arrest: The fear of being taken to Mumbai for a "national security" trial pressured them to comply with the "verification" payments as a form of bail.
Crucial Facts to Remember
There is no "Digital Arrest" in India: Under the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), an arrest requires physical detention. No law enforcement agency (CBI, ED, Police) will ever arrest you over a video call.
No Money for "Verification": Real government agencies never ask citizens to transfer money to "secure" accounts or for "verification" to prove their innocence.
Official Communication: Summons are served physically or via encrypted digital signatures from verified government domains, never via WhatsApp video calls.
What to do if Targeted
If you or a family member receives such a call, hang up immediately and:
Call 1930: The National Cybercrime Helpline.
Report Online: Use the
cybercrime.gov.in Verify Independently: If they claim to be from a specific police station, look up that station's official number on a government website and call them yourself.
Would you like me to find a list of the specific verified contact numbers for Delhi or Mumbai police's cyber cells?
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