Surat: Surat cybercrime police arrested a wanted cyber fraudster at Delhi airport just before he could flee to Russia in connection with a Rs 1.71 crore “digital arrest” scam targeting a senior citizen in December 2024.

The accused, Shankar Chaudhary (37), had been absconding for nearly a year and was wanted for supplying mule bank accounts used to divert the cheated money. He is the sixth accused arrested in the case.

Police said Chaudhary recently obtained a Russian visa through an agent and attempted to leave the country, unaware that a lookout circular (LOC) had been issued against him. He was intercepted and arrested by the Surat cybercrime team at Delhi airport.

Investigators revealed that Chaudhary had earlier travelled to Dubai with co-accused Rameshwar Suthar, where he came in contact with an international cybercrime syndicate. After returning to India, he allegedly arranged mule accounts for the gang in exchange for commission.

In the scam, fraudsters falsely claimed that the victim’s Aadhaar was linked to a money-laundering case and placed him under so-called “digital arrest.” Fake CBI and RBI letters were used to intimidate the victim into transferring Rs 1.71 crore.

Five other accused Mukesh Patel, Mehul Patel, Dungarsinh Rajput, Kesarsinh Devda and Rameshwar Suthar had been arrested earlier. Chaudhary was produced before a court and remanded to three days of police custody for further investigation. DeshGujarat