Gujarat retiree under ‘digital arrest’ 'for a month, told he has mule accounts, made to text ‘I am safe’ every hour

AHMEDABAD: A 73-year-old Gandhinagar retiree, put under "digital arrest" for a month and a half, was forced to send an hourly message saying "I am safe" to the cybercrooks, and was forbidden to sleep without permission. The UN considers sleep deprivation a form of torture.

The septuagenarian, a resident of Pansar village, was accused by "arresting officers" of renting his bank accounts for a massive financial crime. Using the accusation of a ‘mule account holder', the cybercrooks kept the victim under constant virtual surveillance for over a month.


The case highlights a new intimidation tactic now being used by cybercriminals, even as Gujarat police and central agencies intensify action against mule accounts.

According to the FIR, the retiree, who runs a small library, received a call on Oct 10, 2025, from a man identifying himself as Abhimanyu from the telecom department. The victim was told that a criminal case was registered against him and that his sim card and bank accounts would be blocked unless he cooperated.

Minutes later, another caller contacted him via WhatsApp, introducing himself as Niraj Thakur from Delhi police.

The caller alleged that the retiree's Aadhaar card was misused in an ICICI Bank fraud involving Rs 66 crore and that Rs 6 crore was deposited in the retiree's account.

The 73-year-old was told he was being placed under "digital arrest to prove his innocence".

He was instructed to send a WhatsApp message every hour, stating, "I am safe," and was warned not to sleep or move freely without informing the so-called officer.

From Oct 10 to Nov 24, the victim was bombarded with a near-constant deluge of video calls and messages. During this period, he was forced to disclose all the details of his bank accounts, fixed deposits, SIPs, and share market investments. The fraudsters told him that his funds would be temporarily deposited with the Reserve Bank of India for verification and later returned with interest.

Under pressure and fearing arrest, the victim liquidated his investments and transferred Rs 49 lakh in two transactions to accounts provided by the fraudsters. To maintain credibility, the accused sent him forged payment receipts on fake RBI letterheads bearing his name and Aadhaar number.

On Nov 24, one of the cybercrooks informed him that the case was closed and the money would be returned within seven days. When he received neither money nor any communication, the victim realized that he had been cheated and filed an FIR at the Gandhinagar cybercrime police station on Jan 31.