Archive · 2 Oct 2026
ED Arrests Alleged Handler in Oswal ₹7-Crore Digital Arrest Case
The Enforcement Directorate says scammers tricked industrialist S.P. Oswal into paying ₹7 crore.
The scammers allegedly pretended to be officers from the Central Bureau of Investigation and the judiciary.
This type of scam is called a digital arrest because victims are made to believe they are under investigation online.
The ED arrested Sohel Akhtar in Kolkata and called him an alleged key handler.
Investigators say he helped arrange bank accounts used to move the money.
Some accounts were reportedly opened using promises of loans or jobs.
The money was allegedly moved quickly, changed into cryptocurrency and sent through contacts in other countries.
The ED is still investigating what happened and has attached assets worth ₹1.76 crore.
The Enforcement Directorate arrested Sohel Akhtar alias Raju in Kolkata on September 28 under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.
Akhtar is accused of helping route ₹7 crore allegedly extorted from industrialist S.P. Oswal by fraudsters impersonating officials.
The ED said ₹4 crore initially went to Frozenman Warehousing and Logistics and ₹3 crore to Reglo Ventures Private Limited.
Investigators alleged that mule accounts, mobile applications, cryptocurrency and foreign associates helped transfer and conceal the proceeds.
Akhtar was remanded to ED custody until October 6, while the agency continues investigating the alleged network and has attached assets worth ₹1.76 crore.
- Who
- The Enforcement Directorate arrested Sohel Akhtar alias Raju; industrialist S.P. Oswal was the alleged victim, and the ED linked the case to a wider cybercrime syndicate.
- What
- An investigation into an alleged ₹7-crore digital-arrest fraud and the laundering of its proceeds.
- When
- The ED arrested Akhtar on September 28 and he was remanded to agency custody until October 6.
- Where
- Akhtar was arrested in Kolkata and later produced before a special PMLA court in Jalandhar; the alleged network also involved associates in Nepal, Cambodia and Vietnam.
- Why
- The ED alleges that Akhtar helped recruit people, arrange mule bank accounts and route proceeds from the alleged fraud.
- Alleged amount extorted
- ₹7 crore from S.P. Oswal
- Initial transfers
- ₹4 crore to Frozenman Warehousing and Logistics and ₹3 crore to Reglo Ventures Private Limited
- Accused arrested
- Sohel Akhtar alias Raju
- Arrest location
- Kolkata
- Custody
- ED custody until October 6, following proceedings in Kolkata and Jalandhar
- Previously arrested in the investigation
- Rumi Kalita and Arpit Rathore
- Assets provisionally attached
- ₹1.76 crore
