New Delhi: Two men—Shubham Sharma and Mohit—have been arrested for alleged digital harassment of a woman over three months and defrauding her of Rs 35 lakh through fabricated threats of arrest and public humiliation.The complainant, a homemaker, was allegedly targeted through a meticulously planned call from an impersonator posing as sub-inspector Prashant Sharma from the Cyber Crime unit in Mumbai. She was falsely accused of involvement in illegal activities using her Aadhaar credentials. The situation escalated when the call was transferred to a woman claiming to be another officer. Through WhatsApp video and audio calls, she showed the victim forged FIRs and arrest warrants, threatening imminent detention of both the victim and her husband.The victim remained on continuous calls for extended periods and was subjected to intense psychological manipulation, eventually losing the ability to think clearly or seek help. Over the course of three months, she was allegedly coerced into transferring her life savings under the guise of assisting in a fabricated investigation. Each time a payment was made, she was instructed to delete all related digital communication. To maintain pressure and obedience, the fraudsters claimed that police officers were stationed outside her home and warned that any attempt to disclose the situation would lead to her immediate arrest.Realising she was duped, the victim finally approached the authorities and an FIR was registered. An investigation was promptly launched. Through digital forensics, analysis of bank transactions, IP logs, and mobile tower data, investigators gradually uncovered the identity and operating methods of the suspects. A major breakthrough came when a head constable traced a web of suspicious bank accounts and UPI IDs linked to shell entities across several states.“These accounts were receiving staggered payments from the victim—a critical lead that helped expose the larger syndicate. Using a mix of digital surveillance and human intelligence, Shubham Sharma was traced and arrested in Panipat. His interrogation led to the identification and subsequent arrest of co-accused Mohit,” police said.Deputy commissioner of police (crime) Aditya Gautam constituted a team under ACP Anil Sharma. After locating the suspects in Panipat, the team—disguised as locals—carried out covert surveillance before raiding the suspects’ residences, resulting in their arrests.Shubham told investigators he recently completed high school and, while searching for employment, came into contact with Mohit. He was persuaded to open multiple bank accounts using fake documents, forged PAN cards, and temporary contact details. He admitted to facilitating transactions through at least eight such accounts, all of which have now been frozen. He also named others involved in the scheme.According to police, Mohit—a Class X dropout—entered the racket in pursuit of quick money. He primarily recruited vulnerable individuals and assisted in setting up fraudulent bank accounts. He personally accompanied recruits to banks, helped them withdraw the illicit funds, and handed the cash over to other members of the network. Mohit was also involved in a similar case reported in Faridabad.