Panaji, 31 August: Goa Cyber Crime Police have arrested a 25-year-old Bengaluru resident in connection with a ₹35.90 lakh “digital arrest” fraud in which a Margao resident was allegedly threatened with legal action after being falsely told that her bank account was linked to terrorist activities.

The case was registered at the Cyber Crime Police Station on August 21, 2026, under Crime No. 74/2026 for offences under Sections 318(4), 319(2) read with Section 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Section 66-D of the Information Technology Act.

Modus Operandi

According to police, the complainant was contacted through WhatsApp by fraudsters who allegedly impersonated officials of the Andheri Police Station. The callers falsely claimed that her bank account was linked to terrorist activities and allegedly threatened her with serious legal consequences.

Police said the fraudsters subsequently coerced the complainant into transferring ₹35,90,200 through RTGS, purportedly to “settle” the alleged case.

Arrest and Investigation

Following a technical investigation, Cyber Crime Police traced one of the suspects to Bengaluru, Karnataka. A police team comprising PSI Anil Polekar, HC Anay Naik and PC Sunil Renati travelled to Bengaluru and arrested Mohankumar G., 25, son of Govindan, a resident of Hosakerehalli, Banashankari 3rd Stage, Bengaluru.

According to investigators, approximately ₹9.8 lakh from the fraudulent transactions was credited to the bank account linked to the arrested accused during the period between August 6 and August 12, 2026.

The accused was produced before the court, which remanded him to four days of police custody.

Police are now investigating the involvement of other persons, the flow of the remaining money and the wider network allegedly behind the digital arrest fraud.

Further investigation is being conducted by LPI Anushka Pai Bir under the supervision of ASP B.V. Sridevi and the overall supervision of SP Cyber Crime Raju Raut Desai.