CBI arrests three in ‘digital arrest’ fraud case after searches in six States

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Wednesday (February 25, 2026) arrested three accused persons following searches in six States in connection with a high-value “digital arrest” fraud case involving about ₹1.86 crore.

The arrested persons have been identified as Blessin Jacob Abraham, Mohammad Mushtaque, and Mohammad Junaid. The agency said the case pertains to the defrauding of a senior citizen from Kottayam in Kerala.

“Through meticulous digital forensics and financial trail analysis, investigators uncovered a complex network spanning multiple States, with indications of international linkages,” it said.

The CBI launched the operation targeting two critical components of the cyber fraud ecosystem — mule bank account networks, and fraudulently procured SIM cards. Searches were carried out in Goa, Bengaluru, Palakkad, Nagpur, Hyderabad, and Delhi, leading to the seizure of digital devices, debit cards, and bank account documents.

Mr. Abraham was arrested from a Goa hotel. The agency has accused him of playing a key role in operating mule accounts and facilitating cryptocurrency transactions linked to the fraud. Several digital devices containing incriminating data were seized from him, it said.

The second accused, Mr. Mushtaque, was picked up from Nagpur. He allegedly managed mule accounts through a shell company. The agency found a large number of debit cards and digital devices in his premises.

Mr. Junaid arranged SIM cards for use in committing fraud. He was arrested in Bengaluru, according to the CBI.

As alleged, Mr. Junaid duped unsuspecting individuals to get their identification documents by offering “5G SIM upgrades” and misused them to activate SIM cards that were subsequently used in cyber fraud operations believed to be masterminded from abroad.

“Investigation is ongoing to identify additional domestic and international collaborators and to dismantle the broader cyber fraud infrastructure. This operation represents a step in dismantling the enabling ecosystem behind ‘digital arrest’ scams,” the agency said.