‘Friend of poor’ Jorhat doc loses Rs 49 lakh in ‘digital arrest’ scam

Dibrugarh: A 63-year-old surgeon renowned for his selfless service to impoverished patients has become the latest victim of a sophisticated “digital arrest” scam, losing his entire life savings of Rs 49 lakh to cybercriminals posing as law enforcement officials.Dr Sadagar Deuri, professor of surgery at Jorhat Medical College and Hospital (JMCH), filed a complaint on Dec 26 with the senior superintendent of police (SSP), Jorhat, after falling prey to the month-long fraud. Affectionately known as “Dukhiyar Bandhu” or “Friend of the Poor”, Dr Deuri has dedicated his career to treating underprivileged patients, often using his own earnings to cover their medical expenses.The unmarried doctor, who lives modestly in a small, rented room with minimal possessions, became ensnared in the elaborate scam on Nov 19 when he received a WhatsApp video call from an unknown number (8018621096). The caller, claiming to be sub-inspector Shivaprasad of Bengaluru Police, accused him of involvement in 17 criminal cases related to obscene material.According to the complaint, when Dr Deuri refused demands to travel to Bengaluru, the fraudsters escalated their tactics by invoking the CBI and displaying his Aadhaar details on screen. They alleged that he had sold his ATM card during a financial crisis, claiming that Rs 3 crore in fraudulent transactions had been carried out through 150 ATM withdrawals from his bank account.The perpetrators subjected Dr Deuri to sustained psychological pressure, forcing him to remain on continuous video calls under the pretence of an ongoing investigation. Citing provisions of the National Security Act, they forbade him from disclosing the matter to anyone and demanded property details, videos of his residence, and regular location updates.To strengthen their fabricated case, the scammers sent forged documents, including fake FIR copies and fraudulent Supreme Court notifications. Under relentless intimidation and fear of imminent arrest, Dr Deuri was coerced into transferring funds as a “security deposit” that would supposedly be returned.Between Nov 24 and Dec 20, he made five separate transactions totalling Rs 49 lakh. The first transfer alone, on Nov 24, amounted to Rs 25 lakh, while the final payment of Rs 5 lakh was made on De 20.Upon realising he had been deceived by a well-orchestrated scheme involving fake identities, spoofed phone numbers, and fabricated legal threats, Dr Deuri reported the matter to the police.Jorhat SSP Subhrajyoti Borah confirmed that the police cyber cell has launched an intensive investigation. “We are working to trace the money trail and coordinate with banks to freeze the beneficiary accounts,” Borah said.