The ordeal began on July 16 when the doctor received a phone call from an individual posing as a Customs Officer. The caller informed the doctor that a parcel had been intercepted, containing 16 fake passports, 58 ATM cards, and 140 grams of MDMA drugs, reports The Tribune.

The caller claimed that the case had been handed over to the Delhi Police and would also involve the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). Shortly after, the doctor was contacted by another individual, identifying himself as a CBI Special Officer. Under the guise of authority, the scammers digitally arrested the doctor, transferring Rs 36.70 lakhs from his bank account to various other accounts.

An unidentified caller called the victim on July 16 claimed to be a Customs Officer and informed him that the Delhi Police had taken possession of a package under his name containing sixteen counterfeit passports, fifty-eight ATM cards, and one hundred forty grammes of MDMA. The CBI, he added, would look into it as well, reports the Daily.

Sub-Inspector Hansraj, the lead investigator on the case, reported that the funds extorted from the doctor were initially deposited into three different bank accounts before being dispersed across approximately 18 accounts. A significant portion of the money, amounting to Rs 5 lakhs, was traced back to an individual’s account. It is alleged that the accused was a labourer by profession and he was manipulated by another individual, who convinced him to sign a cheque and hand over his bank passbook. In exchange for his cooperation, he just received a mere Rs 6,000.

As the investigation continues, authorities are actively searching for the mastermind, who has reportedly gone missing. The police have managed to place the Rs 5 lakhs from his account on hold, but the majority of the fraudulent funds have already been withdrawn by the scammers.