In First 'Digital Arrest' Cybercrime Conviction, Nine Sentenced to Life in West Bengal

Nadia, West Bengal, July 19 — In a landmark judgment, a sessions court in Nadia district on Friday sentenced nine cybercriminals to life imprisonment in India’s first conviction related to the emerging cybercrime technique known as “digital arrest.” The life imprisonment sentence was pronounced on Friday. A day earlier, the nine were convicted. The accused had duped a retired scientist from Ranaghat of ₹1 crore in October 2024.

The ruling was delivered by Additional Sessions Judge Suberthi Sarkar at the Kalyani court. The court held the nine men guilty under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Information Technology Act. The trial, which concluded in less than five months, involved an extensive investigation and a voluminous charge sheet spanning over 2,500 pages.

Those convicted include Mohammed Imtiyaz Ansari, Jatin Ladwal, Shahrukh Shaikh, and Shahid Shaikh from Maharashtra; Faldu Ashok and Pathan Sumaiya from Gujarat; and Rohit Singh, Sahil Singh, and Ruspesh Yadav from Haryana.

According to investigators, the accused were part of a sophisticated interstate cybercrime syndicate that exploited victims by impersonating law enforcement agencies and coercing them into “digital arrests,” a method involving fake video calls and threats of prosecution. Authorities revealed that the group, which has many more members, may have amassed over ₹100 crore by targeting victims across the country using similar tactics.

Special public prosecutor Bivas Chatterjee, appearing for the state, described the operation as “economic terrorism” and urged the court to impose the harshest penalty available under law. The court concurred with the prosecution’s assessment, citing the gravity of the crime, the organized nature of the fraud, and the impact on public trust.

The complaint was filed by Partha Kumar Mukerjee, a retired scientist residing in Ranaghat, who was conned into transferring ₹1 crore under duress. The accused were arrested from Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Haryana following a multi-state operation.

The prosecution’s case was supported by 29 witnesses, including bank officials from four different states. Investigators also seized large numbers of ATM cards, SIM cards, mobile phones, and bank account documents used in the fraud.

Legal experts view the conviction as a significant milestone in India’s battle against cyber fraud, particularly the growing menace of impersonation-based digital extortion.