德里千 crore 级网络诈骗案

In 2025, cybercriminals defrauded Delhi residents of nearly Rs 1,000 crore, with losses later estimated at Rs 1,250 crore. The scams included investment frauds, "digital arrest" extortion, and boss impersonation. In one case, a 78-year-old retired banker was placed under "digital arrest" for six weeks and lost Rs 22.92 crore; another elderly couple lost Rs 14.85 crore. Fraudsters operated from Southeast Asian "scam compounds" in Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam, using mule accounts and SIM boxes to launder money. Delhi Police's Operation Cyber Hawk arrested over 700 criminals and uncovered a Rs 1,000 crore fraud trail.

As of early 2026, the case remains under active investigation. Multiple arrests have been made, including five in the Rs 23 crore digital arrest case and three in a Rs 49 lakh fraud. The Delhi High Court has denied bail to accused individuals, citing the alarming rise in cybercrimes. Authorities have frozen approximately 20-24% of defrauded funds for potential recovery.

Key disputes include the jurisdictional challenges of prosecuting overseas-based syndicate masterminds, the liability of banks and telecom providers for enabling fraud through mule accounts and spoofed calls, and the adequacy of existing legal frameworks to address the novel "digital arrest" modus operandi. The Supreme Court took suo motu cognisance, calling digital arrest an "attack on the entire justice system".

The case exposed the vulnerability of even educated, affluent citizens to sophisticated cyber manipulation, sparking widespread public fear. It prompted the Supreme Court and Delhi High Court to intervene, raising awareness about "digital arrest" as a non-existent legal procedure. The scandal also highlighted the role of mule accounts and NGO fronts in money laundering, leading to calls for stricter banking regulations and international cooperation to dismantle Southeast Asian scam compounds.