TL;DR: A retired professor in Bhubaneswar was told his Aadhaar was linked to a terrorist's bank account. Over four days he transferred ₹2.45 crore to several accounts. The fraud happened in February 2026 and the complaint was filed on May 15. Odisha Police secured a hold on a private bank account through court orders and recovered ₹1.1 crore.
What happened
The Times of India reported in late June 2026 on a classic digital arrest scam in Bhubaneswar. Fraudsters allegedly told a retired professor that his Aadhaar was connected to a terrorist's bank account. One scammer posed as an Intelligence Bureau officer and even sent a fake digital-arrest order through WhatsApp.
Over four days the professor transferred ₹2.45 crore to several accounts.
The recovery
Police managed to follow the money trail. OrissaPost reported that police identified several beneficiary accounts linked to the fraud and, through court orders, secured a hold on a private bank account containing ₹1.10 crore. Odisha Police then helped the victim get the recovered money back into his account.
It was not a complete recovery, but ₹1.1 crore from a ₹2.45 crore fraud is a significant breakthrough. One detail matters for everyone: the fraud took place in February 2026, and the complaint was filed on May 15, about three and a half months later. Delay narrows the window, which is why the 1930 golden hour exists.
Warning signs in this scam
- A claim that your Aadhaar or phone number is linked to a crime. The same hook appears in the Kochi case and in how digital arrest scams work in India.
- A fake official document sent on WhatsApp. A police or agency order sent as an image or PDF over chat is not a real arrest.
- Pressure to move money to "verify" your innocence. Real agencies do not ask for this.
Another case with a similar ending is a bank manager who stopped an ₹84 lakh digital arrest. If you are already a victim, follow what to do after you have been scammed and report at cybercrime.gov.in or on 1930.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much did the Bhubaneswar professor lose and recover?
He lost ₹2.45 crore across several accounts over four days, and Odisha Police recovered ₹1.1 crore through court orders.
What story did the scammers tell the professor?
They allegedly said his Aadhaar was connected to a terrorist's bank account, and one scammer posed as an Intelligence Bureau officer who sent a fake digital-arrest order on WhatsApp.
When did the fraud happen and when was it reported?
OrissaPost reported that the fraud took place in February 2026 and the complaint was filed on May 15, 2026.
Does reporting late mean the money is lost?
No, as this case shows, but reporting quickly gives police the best chance to freeze funds before they move further through accounts.