Digital arrest: CBI files chargesheet

Kochi: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) filed a chargesheet against five accused, including a company, in connection with a digital arrest fraud case in Kerala. Those accused in the chargesheet filed on Saturday are C S Saleeshkumar, Blessin Jacob Abraham, Mohammed Junaid Hussain and Mohammad Mushtaque, while the company is JCSS Capital International Pvt Ltd.According to a statement issued by the central agency on Tuesday, the chargesheet was filed on April 25. Three of the accused are currently in judicial custody. The case was registered by the CBI on Nov 24, 2025, following directions from the Kerala High Court.The case pertains to defrauding of a senior citizen of over Rs1.8 crore by ‘cybercriminals' who intimidated her using fake notices, impersonating law enforcement and judicial authorities. The accused allegedly contacted the victim through video calls.The investigation revealed that two of the accused operated bank accounts used to receive the proceeds of the crime along with the associated company. Another accused sourced and supplied such accounts to cybercriminals, while one individual played a key role in fraudulently issuing SIM cards used to contact the victim.The probe has also indicated the involvement of transnational organised groups operating from scam compounds in Southeast Asia targeting Indian citizens.The CBI reiterated its commitment to taking stringent legal action against those facilitating cybercrime through misuse of banking and telecom infrastructure. It also cautioned the public against fraudulent schemes, particularly those involving so-called digital arrest tactics, stressing that no such legal concept exists. TNN