Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai

Mumbai, Mar 6: A 77-year-old senior citizen from Goregaon was allegedly cheated of more than Rs 2.25 crore by cyber fraudsters who threatened him with arrest in a fake terrorism investigation. The Mumbai police have arrested a suspect from Gujarat in connection with the case, officials said on Friday.

The accused, identified as Kishan Bhaveshbhai Makwana, allegedly helped cyber criminals by opening bank accounts that were used to receive and store money obtained through online scams. Police said his role surfaced during technical analysis conducted as part of the investigation.

According to officials, the fraud came to light after the victim approached the Mumbai Police cyber cell with a complaint. He told investigators that he began receiving calls from unidentified persons in November 2025.

One of the callers, who introduced himself as Akash Sharma, claimed to be a senior officer from the Mumbai Police headquarters. He allegedly told the elderly man that a bank account had been opened in Jammu and Kashmir in his name and that it had been used to transfer money to suspected terrorists.

The fraudster further claimed that the victim had received Rs 70 lakh as commission through the account and would have to appear before authorities for questioning.

When the senior citizen said he could not travel, the call was transferred to another person who allegedly posed as an officer from the Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorism Squad based in Lucknow.

The fraudsters told the victim that his Aadhaar card details had been misused to open a bank account in Jammu and Kashmir through which funds linked to terrorism had been routed.

To make the claim appear genuine, the victim later received a WhatsApp message containing an official-looking notice allegedly bearing the signature of Sadanand Date, former chief of the National Investigation Agency.

The message warned that failure to cooperate with the investigation could lead to 10 years of imprisonment and a fine of Rs 5 lakh. Police said the message also included copies of a fake arrest warrant and seizure order, further alarming the victim.

The fraudsters then instructed the senior citizen to share details of his bank accounts and claimed that transferring money would help clear his name in the case.

Fearing arrest and legal trouble, the victim transferred more than Rs 2.25 crore in several transactions between November 18 and December 3, 2025, to bank accounts provided by the accused.

After receiving the money, the fraudsters allegedly told the victim that his bail had been approved and assured him that the amount would be returned soon.

Realising that he had been cheated, the victim later filed a complaint with the North Regional Cyber Division of Mumbai police.

During the probe, investigators traced the financial trail to bank accounts allegedly opened by Makwana in Gujarat. He was apprehended earlier this week after questioning confirmed his alleged role.

Police said Makwana had opened bank accounts for cyber criminals to facilitate the movement and storage of funds obtained through fraudulent activities. Efforts are underway to identify and arrest other members of the cyber fraud network involved in the case.