Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: The Cyber Crime Police Station in Goa has arrested a 48-year-old man from Maharashtra in connection with a major “digital arrest” cyber fraud case involving ₹61.84 lakh, police said.
The case was registered on April 13, 2026, following a complaint by a resident of Quepem who was allegedly duped by fraudsters posing as officers of the Mumbai Crime Branch. The accused reportedly threatened the victim with arrest in a fabricated money laundering case linked to the Popular Front of India (PFI).
According to police, the fraudsters used a mobile number and WhatsApp to contact the complainant, sending fake documents such as a forged bank statement and a bogus arrest warrant. The victim was then placed under what the accused described as a “digital arrest” and was coerced into transferring ₹61,84,200 to avoid legal action.
After a detailed technical investigation, the cyber crime team traced one of the suspects to Ajara in Kolhapur district of Maharashtra. A team led by PSI Navin Naik, along with police personnel Sidaramaiyya Math and Vinay Amonkar, conducted the operation and apprehended the accused, identified as Dayanand Baburao Devalkar.
Police said the आरोपी had received around ₹61 lakh in his bank account, which was later routed to multiple accounts linked to his associates as part of the fraud network.
The accused was produced before the court, and police are seeking custody for further interrogation. Authorities indicated that more arrests are likely as the investigation progresses.
The probe is being conducted by PI Deepak Pednekar under the supervision of ASP B.V. Sridevi and overall supervision of SP Cyber Crime Raju Raut Desai.
