The Hyderabad Cyber Crime Police arrested two persons for their involvement in a digital arrest case in which a 63-year-old retired employee and his daughter were cheated of ₹29.17 lakh by impersonating as officials of the Delhi Police, CBI and Enforcement Directorate (ED).
The accused, Mohd. Ashfaq Hussain and Ahmed Najeeb Uddin, both businessmen from Ameerpet, were apprehended on Saturday (October 17). Investigators identified links to approximately 16 cyber crime cases registered across India.
According to the police, the fraud began on March 3, 2025, when unidentified callers posing as investigation agency officials accused the retired employee of involvement in a ₹6.8 crore money laundering case.
The fraudsters sent forged official documents, claimed his Aadhaar details and fingerprints had been misused, and threatened him with arrest. They subsequently persuaded him and his daughter to transfer ₹29,17,668 for verification, promising a refund while instructing them to maintain secrecy in the name of national security.
Investigators said the arrested duo had come into contact with Sachin, a Bengaluru resident, through WhatsApp while facing financial difficulties.
Sachin allegedly arranged for fraudulent funds to be transferred into bank accounts provided by the accused. The duo withdrew the money through cheques and deposited it into multiple accounts using cash deposit machines to conceal the money trail.
Police said Sachin subsequently used the funds to purchase USDT cryptocurrency, which was sold online for Indian rupees. The arrested men received commissions for facilitating the transactions.
The accused were produced before a court, while efforts are underway to trace Sachin, who is absconding.
Published – October 18, 2026 06:42 pm IST