Kalyani, West Bengal – July 19, 2025:
In a landmark judgment that echoes the nation’s growing concern over cybercrime, a West Bengal court has sentenced nine individuals to life imprisonment in the country’s first-ever conviction related to the notorious “Digital Arrest” scam. The verdict, delivered by the Additional Sessions Judge of Kalyani in Nadia district, comes just eight months after the complaint was first lodged — a remarkably swift and powerful blow against cyber fraud.
The case that set this precedent involved a retired scientist, Partha Kumar Mukherjee, who became the target of an elaborate cybercrime operation on November 6, 2024. He received a WhatsApp call from a man identifying himself as Hemraj Kohli, a sub-inspector with the Mumbai Police. The caller accused Mukherjee of involvement in a financial scam and presented fabricated legal documents to threaten him.
The fraudster warned the victim that both he and his wife would be arrested unless he cooperated. Using psychological pressure and threats, the scammers forced Mukherjee to remain on the call continuously and transfer a total of ₹1 crore to various bank accounts under the pretense of legal compliance. Only after the number went inactive did he realize he had been conned.
Acting swiftly, Mukherjee reported the incident to the Cyber Crime Police Station in Ranaghat. The ensuing investigation uncovered a deeply organized racket, with the scam originating from Cambodia. The scammers, fluent in Hindi and Bengali, used Indian SIM cards registered under fake identities to conduct their operations. The police traced the money trail to multiple bank accounts across India.
Of the 13 individuals arrested, nine were formally charged and tried. Investigators found that seven of the accused had received money directly into their accounts and had perpetrated similar frauds on at least 108 other victims across the country.
The convicted individuals are:
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Shahid Ali Shaikh – Ulhasnagar, Maharashtra
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Shahrukh Rafiq Shaikh – Thane, Maharashtra
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Jatin Anoop Ladwal – Nalasopara, Maharashtra
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Mohammad Imtiyaz Ansari – Ulhasnagar, Maharashtra
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Rohit Singh – Hisar, Haryana
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Rupesh Yadav – Rewari, Haryana
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Sahil Singh – Rewari, Haryana
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Sumaiya Bano Pathan – Surat, Gujarat
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Ashok Faldu – Jamnagar, Gujarat
The trial began on February 24, 2025, and was completed within just four and a half months. The prosecution, led by Special Public Prosecutor Bivas Chatterjee, presented compelling evidence, including testimonies from bank managers across various states and the Mumbai Police SHO.
All nine convicts were found guilty under multiple sections of the Indian Penal Code for fraud and forgery, as well as under Sections 66C and 66D of the Information Technology Act, which pertain to identity theft and cheating by impersonation using computer resources.
“This is the first conviction in India under the ‘digital arrest’ category,” said Chatterjee, noting the significance of the case in setting a legal precedent. He also emphasized that the scam was designed to exploit fear and authority, tricking innocent individuals through fake law enforcement threats.
Law enforcement agencies across India have since intensified efforts to clamp down on cybercrime networks, especially those operating from overseas but using domestic money mules. The West Bengal verdict serves as a stern warning and a hopeful milestone for victims still seeking justice.
As cybercrime becomes increasingly sophisticated, this judgment not only delivers justice to the victim but also signals a turning point in India’s battle against digital deception.
