Kingpin Behind ₹7 Crore Cyber Scam Targeting Padma Bhushan Awardee SP Oswal Arrested Again

Ludhiana/Guwahati – In a major breakthrough in one of India's most sensational cybercrime cases, the Ludhiana Cyber Crime Police have rearrested the kingpin of an interstate cyber gang that duped Padma Bhushan awardee and Vardhman Group chairman SP Oswal of ₹7 crore. The mastermind, identified as Atanu Choudhary from Guwahati, Assam, was apprehended following a tip-off.

Nine months ago, the cybercriminals executed a high-profile digital heist by impersonating Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) officers and staging a fake Supreme Court hearing via Skype. The 82-year-old industrialist was digitally held hostage for days under constant surveillance.

Arrest After Bail Violation

Choudhary, along with co-accused Anand Kumar, was initially arrested in September 2024. However, both were granted bail with the condition of joining the investigation—an order they blatantly ignored. This slowed down the investigation significantly.

Following a renewed intelligence input, police managed to trace and re-arrest Choudhary in Guwahati. Ludhiana Deputy Commissioner of Police (City and Rural), Rupinder Singh, confirmed the arrest and stated that eight more accomplices have been identified. These include Nimmi Bhattacharjee, Alok Rangi, Gulam Mortaza, Sanjay Sutradhar, Rintu, Rumi Kalita, and Zakir. The accused hail from Assam, West Bengal, and New Delhi.

How the ₹7 Crore Scam Was Executed

On August 31, 2024, an FIR was registered after Oswal reported that he was coerced into transferring ₹7 crore in multiple tranches. The fraudsters accused him of being involved in a fake money laundering case linked to Jet Airways founder Naresh Goyal.

In a chilling revelation, the cyber gang forced Oswal to stay under continuous Skype surveillance, even while sleeping. They posed as top officials, including a fake Chief Justice of India, Justice D Y Chandrachud, and presented forged Supreme Court documents titled ‘Justice Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud vs Shri Paul Oswal’. Oswal, intimidated and isolated, followed their instructions without contacting anyone.

The fraudsters wore formal attire, flashed fake CBI ID cards, and set up national flags in their video calls to simulate a real legal environment. They threatened Oswal with fabricated legal consequences unless he complied.

FIR and Legal Action

The Ludhiana Cyber Crime Police have registered a case under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS)—308(2), 319(2), 318(4), 351(2), and 61(2)—along with Sections 66C and 66D of the Information Technology Act.

Historic Recovery in Cybercrime

During the initial arrests in September 2024, the police recovered ₹5.25 crore, six debit cards, and three mobile phones. According to the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre under the Ministry of Home Affairs, this is the biggest recovery in a cybercrime case in India to date.

Ongoing Investigation

DCP Rupinder Singh stated that the hunt is on to arrest the remaining accused. “We expect more crucial details to emerge as the investigation progresses,” he said.