Background and Timeline: In January 2026, the CBI re-registered an FIR originally filed by the Delhi Police Special Cell. This follows a December 2025 direction from the Supreme Court, which took suo motu cognizance of the case after an elderly woman lost her life savings.   

Modus Operandi: The 76-year-old victim was placed under “digital arrest” beginning December 24. Scammers impersonated high-ranking officials and used fake documents and electronic records to convince her she was linked to a crime. Under extreme psychological duress, she was kept confined while her savings were transferred to multiple fraudulent accounts.   

Victims and Financial Impact: A widowed pensioner from Munirka lost ₹1.64 crore. The case is linked to a broader surge in such scams, including an NRI couple in Delhi who lost ₹14 crore in a two-week digital siege.   

Investigation and Agencies Involved: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is now the primary agency for the unified pan-India probe. The Supreme Court bench led by Justice Surya Kant is actively supervising the investigation.   

Arrests and Suspects: The CBI is currently tracing the money trail to identify the core members of the syndicate, suspected to be operating from foreign scam compounds.   

Broader Implications and Trends: The Supreme Court has flagged this as a “very big challenge,” noting that even highly educated professionals and lawyers are being victimized by these psychological traps