Mumbai Woman Loses ₹3.71 Crore in ‘Judge Chandrachud’ Digital Arrest Cybercrime Scam
In a recent case of cybercrime in India, a 68-year-old woman from Mumbai’s Andheri West has allegedly been cheated of ₹3.71 crore in a sophisticated digital arrest scam, where fraudsters impersonated senior law-enforcement officials and staged a fake virtual court proceeding using the name of a judge identified as “Judge Chandrachud”.
According to the FIR registered with the West Region Cyber Police Station, the accused contacted the victim through video calls, falsely accusing her of involvement in a money laundering investigation. During the deception, one of the accused posed as a judge using the surname “Chandrachud”, thereby creating a false impression of judicial authority and legitimacy.
Police authorities have categorically clarified that Chief Justice of India Dr. D.Y. Chandrachud has no connection whatsoever with the incident, and that the Judge’s name was fraudulently misused by cybercriminals solely to intimidate and mislead the victim.
What Is a ‘Digital Arrest’ Scam?
Impersonation of Judicial Authority: A New Cybercrime Pattern
Investigators revealed that the fraudsters impersonated officials from the Mumbai Police, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), and a judicial authority, and conducted what appeared to be a “virtual court hearing”. The victim was placed under so-called “digital arrest” and was continuously monitored through video calls, while being coerced into transferring large sums of money under the threat of arrest and attachment of assets.
The misuse of the identity of a sitting or former judge, particularly the Chief Justice of India, represents a dangerous escalation in cybercrime tactics, exploiting public trust in constitutional institutions.
Disclaimer (Crime in Delhi): This report is based on information available from police records and official sources. The use of the name “Chandrachud” in this article is strictly in the context of alleged impersonation by cybercriminals. Chief Justice of India Dr. D.Y. Chandrachud has no connection with the incident. Crime in Delhi does not intend to suggest or imply any wrongdoing by any judicial authority.
