- 01 July, 2026
ROURKELA, Odisha, July 1, 2026: Two Mumbai residents have been arrested for allegedly defrauding Bishop Kishore Kujur of the Catholic Diocese of Rourkela of ₹14.36 lakh through a sophisticated "digital arrest" scam, following an investigation by the Rourkela Cyber Crime and Economic Offences Police.
The case was registered on March 10 after Bishop Kujur filed a complaint reporting that he had been deceived by fraudsters posing as senior law enforcement officials. Announcing the breakthrough, Deputy Inspector General (Western Range) Brijesh Kumar Rai and Rourkela Superintendent of Police Nitesh Wadhwani said the accused—Nayan Lalit Nathwani (47) of Charkop and Dhabal Paresh Pandya (35) of Kandivali, both in Mumbai—were arrested after an extensive investigation.
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According to police, the fraud began with a phone call from a person impersonating a Mumbai Police officer, who falsely claimed that a mobile number registered in the Bishop's name had been used in criminal activities in January 2026.
The Bishop was subsequently contacted through a video call by another individual posing as an IPS officer, who alleged that his bank account was linked to the purported offences. He was then connected to a third caller claiming to be an investigating officer from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
Police said the fake CBI officer accused the Bishop's Mumbai bank account of being involved in money laundering and terror financing through transactions allegedly linked to one Naresh Goyal. Despite Bishop Kujur's repeated denial of any involvement, the fraudsters reportedly displayed what they claimed was a non-bailable warrant issued by the Supreme Court and warned him that he was under CBI surveillance. He was also instructed to submit an activity report every three hours as part of the fabricated investigation.
Investigators said the callers appeared to possess detailed personal information about the Bishop, making their claims seem credible. They further instructed him to present himself either before a police station in Mumbai or the Supreme Court, intensifying the psychological pressure.
The fraudsters eventually convinced the Bishop that his cooperation was essential to clear his name. He was allegedly directed to transfer ₹36,500 as a fee for filing a petition before the Supreme Court and ₹14 lakh as a refundable security deposit. Trusting the authenticity of the instructions, Bishop Kujur transferred the amount electronically in two instalments.
Realising later that he had fallen victim to a cyber fraud, the Bishop approached the Rourkela Cyber Crime and Economic Offences Police Station, leading to the registration of the case.
SP Wadhwani said investigators traced the accused through technical analysis of bank transactions, mobile phone records, digital evidence and beneficiary accounts. The two men, identified as GST brokers, were apprehended in Mumbai and brought to Rourkela for further investigation.
Police said the accused were part of a wider cyber fraud network and that the bank accounts used to receive the Bishop's money had also been used to channel proceeds from cybercrimes committed across several states.
The incident serves as a reminder of the growing threat posed by "digital arrest" scams, in which fraudsters impersonate police and other government agencies to intimidate victims into transferring money. Authorities have urged the public to verify such claims through official channels and to report suspicious calls immediately to cybercrime authorities.
Courtesy: Express News Service
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