SUBHASH MISHRA
Dhanbad, January 20: Dhanbad police have arrested a cybercriminal from Bhopal for cheating ₹10.50 lakh from a resident of the district by threatening him with a fake money laundering case.
The arrest was made by a special investigation team (SIT) following a complaint filed by the victim, Sebastian Horo (73), a resident of Tundi block in Dhanbad.
Fraud Committed Through Fake WhatsApp Messages
According to police, the accused, identified as Arun Ahirwar (26), posed as an officer of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). He sent WhatsApp messages to the victim, threatening to implicate him in a money laundering case.
Under mental pressure and fear of legal action, the victim transferred ₹10.50 lakh to bank accounts provided by the fraudster to avoid the fake case.
ALSO READ: Davos visit aimed at fulfilling dreams of Baba Dishom Guruji: CM Hemant Soren
FIR Filed, SIT Formed for Investigation
Sebastian Horo lodged an FIR on January 8, 2026, at the cyber police station in Dhanbad. Taking the matter seriously, senior superintendent of police Prabhat Kumar constituted an SIT under the supervision of cyber police station officer-in-charge Ravikant Prasad.
The team conducted a detailed investigation using technical analysis, bank transaction records, mobile location tracking, and digital evidence.
Arrest Made from Bhopal
Based on the investigation, the police arrested Arun Ahirwar from Bhopal. During interrogation, it was found that he transferred ₹5.50 lakh of the cheated amount to another bank account through a cheque and distributed ₹5 lakh among his accomplices.
Police said efforts are underway to identify and arrest other members involved in the cyber fraud.
Seizure and Team Members
The accused is a resident of Vidisha district in Madhya Pradesh. Police seized one mobile phone and two SIM cards from him.
The SIT included Inspector Vishwajit Thakur, Inspector Vikash Prasad, Sub-Inspector Iftekhar Ahmed, and Ambuj Kumar Bouri.
