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Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →The Enforcement Directorate (ED) says it arrested Sohel Akthar, also known as Raju, in Kolkata in connection with the alleged ₹7-crore digital-arrest fraud targeting industrialist S.P. Oswal. The ED reported that a Jalandhar court remanded Akthar to seven days of ED custody; Hindustan Times reported that the order ran through October 6, 2026. The arrest and remand are procedural steps, not a finding of guilt.
What the ED says happened
In a prosecution-complaint announcement dated February 20, 2026, the ED said its investigation found that people impersonating Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) officers allegedly extorted ₹7 crore from Oswal. The agency identified accounts linked to Rigglo Ventures Private Limited and Frozenman Warehousing and Logistics as initial recipients of the alleged proceeds. It also said proceeds from eight other cybercrimes reached an account linked to Frozenman. The ED’s announcement describes the agency’s allegations, not a court-established account of the events.
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Hindustan Times reported that the alleged extortion took place on August 31, 2024. According to that report’s account of ED allegations, Oswal was kept under constant surveillance: he was told to leave his Skype camera on and not contact anyone while the fraud was underway. The report also says investigators allege Akthar arranged mule accounts, received cryptocurrency commissions through a Binance account belonging to him or associates, and that money moved among multiple accounts. Some funds were allegedly withdrawn as cash or converted to virtual digital assets and transferred to foreign nationals. These details remain allegations.
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The arrest is a later development in a case that already had a prosecution complaint. The ED’s October 1 listing says Akthar was arrested in Kolkata and remanded by a Jalandhar court to seven days of ED custody. Hindustan Times reported that ED searches at three locations in West Bengal took place on September 28 and that the custody order ran through October 6, 2026. The ED listing and Hindustan Times’ October 2 report describe these procedural events.
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- August 31, 2024: Hindustan Times dates the alleged extortion from Oswal to this day.
- February 19, 2026: The ED says it filed a prosecution complaint before the Special Court (PMLA), Jalandhar. The complaint named Rumi Kalita, Arpit Rathore, Anand Chaudhary, Atanu Chaudhary and Frozenman Warehousing and Logistics.
- September 28, 2026: Hindustan Times reports that ED searched three locations in West Bengal and arrested Akthar.
- October 1, 2026: The ED listing reports Akthar’s arrest and seven-day custody remand.
- October 2, 2026: Hindustan Times published its report on the arrest and the alleged money trail.
The earlier complaint against five accused and Akthar’s later arrest are distinct procedural developments. The available accounts do not establish a final adjudication of guilt.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What “digital arrest” means—and does not mean
“Digital arrest” is a scam label, not a lawful form of custody. In a May 15, 2026 announcement, the CBI said “there is no legal concept of a ‘Digital Arrest’”. It described scammers using fabricated official-looking notices and a sham legal process to intimidate victims, sometimes keeping them under video-call surveillance. That general explanation does not determine what happened in the Oswal case; the specific conduct there remains subject to investigation. The CBI announcement carried by PIB also describes its ABHAY helpbot for checking purported CBI notices through the official CBI website.
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A May 14, 2024 Ministry of Home Affairs alert likewise warns that callers may impersonate law-enforcement agencies, demand money and keep victims visibly available over Skype or another video-conferencing platform. The alert identifies these as scam tactics, not evidence that every fraud follows the same pattern. The public alert points people to official cybercrime reporting channels.
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How to respond to a purported law-enforcement video call
- Do not pay or follow instructions under pressure. A caller’s claim that you are under “digital arrest” does not create a legal arrest.
- Verify notices independently. For a notice claiming to come from the CBI, the agency advises checking it through ABHAY on the official CBI website rather than relying on links, phone numbers or instructions supplied by the caller.
- Report suspicious contact through official channels. Use the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal or the financial cyber-fraud reporting mechanisms identified by the Ministry of Home Affairs, and follow the current official instructions.
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