The capital city, Delhi, has recently witnessed one of its most terrifying cyber fraud cases, termed as 'digital captivity.' Falling prey to this were an elderly doctor couple who had rendered their service to the UN in America for a span of 48 years. They were held digitally captive for 15 consecutive days. Monitoring was rigorous, and through video calls, fake police and forged documents were shown to them. The scammers walked away with ₹14.85 crores, which was their lifetime earning.
A call on December 24 and...
Dr. Om Taneja and his wife, Dr. Indira Taneja, returned to India in 2015, residing in the upscale neighborhood of Greater Kailash in South Delhi, indulging in social service and charitable activities. On December 24, a distressing call reached Dr. Indira Taneja, from someone claiming to be a police officer, alleging complaints against her involving money laundering, offensive calls, photos, and fake accounts — 26 in total.
The scamsters alleged a fraudulent account in the name of the Tanejas existed at Canara Bank, Mumbai - a city Dr. Indira had never visited, nor had she, without her husband, ever opened an account, thus marking the beginning of their nightmare.
The threat of 'National Security' and being 'Digitally Captive'
The conversations took a sudden shift to national security concerns and economic crimes - citing PMLA laws, money laundering statutes, Supreme Court references, and arrest warrants. They warned that any information leak could be fatal for Dr. Taneja and her husband, thereby beginning their digital captivity.
Source: aajtak
15 Days of Digital Prison... Every Call, Every Step Under Scrutiny
From December 24 to January 9-10, the doctor couple was constantly monitored via video calls. Whenever Dr. Indira intended to step outside, converse with someone, or visit the bank, the scammers ensured Dr. Taneja's phone remained on video calls, listening and viewing everything.
Restrictions from Disclosing Anything
The couple couldn't even speak to their children without activating a video call. Instagram, WhatsApp, and friendly gatherings were put on leash, with consistent threats about looming danger over their lives.
Dr. Indira Taneja recounts the instructions given to her: 'You are under surveillance. Stepping out or communicating could lead to an immediate arrest.'
Source: aajtak
The Game of Supreme Court, Fake Judges, and Letters
Impersonating Kolaba police, duty officers, even officials related to the Supreme Court, they set up an elaborate web. A mock judge featured on video calls, compelling Dr. Indira to draft letters for the Supreme Court, including details about her social service and trusteeships, assuring them that transferring their money 'for investigation' would result in a full refund via RBI and a 'clean chit.'
Extracting Money from the Bank
During digital captivity, the scammers meticulously scripted the Tanejas' dialogues meant for bank visits. They rehearsed fabricated narratives: claiming investments by her husband, loans to friends, or funding for environmental and health projects.
On her initial bank visit, when questioned by the manager, Dr. Indira echoed the scamsters' rehearsed stories.
Eight Transactions, ₹14.85 crores
Within a fortnight, eight transactions occurred involving varying amounts: once ₹2 crores, other times ₹2.1 crores, even ₹1.99 crores- cumulatively siphoning away the entire amount. All along, the con artists reassured them— that there would be a 100 percent recovery; it was mere formal procedure.
Source: aajtak
A Confrontation at the Police Station, The Web Unravels
On the morning of January 10, the scamsters enacted a new drama, instructing Dr. Indira to visit the local police station to initiate the refund process via RBI.
Though still connected via video call during her police station visit, speaking with the SHO and receiving disrespectful gestures from the scamsters, the reality unfolded. At the precinct, the Tanejas learned they had been duped of ₹14.85 crores in a sophisticated cyber scam.
The Tanejas in Shock, Investigation Transferred to IFSO
Deeply shaken by the revelations, the doctor couple finds themselves shattered. The gravity of the situation prompted Delhi Police to register an FIR, handing the investigation over to the special cyber unit, IFSO. Authorities are now probing the money trail, forged documents, video call surveillance, and the digital captivity network.
Photos Tell the Full Story
The victimized couple shared screenshots of the transactions, affirming that this was not a spur-of-the-moment heist, but a prolonged, orchestrated digital entrapment.
Canara's account statement features an entry of December 30, 2025, denoting an RTGS transfer of ₹2 crores to an account, complete with a UTR number, RTGS charges, and the bank branch code. SMS alerts on their phone illustrate ₹10,000 debited on December 29, 2025, with a subsequent RTGS transaction of ₹2,00,00,000. It clarifies the funds went to Fioresta Foundation. Additionally, it advises dialing 1930 for reporting cyber fraud.
WhatsApp Chats and Call Logs
WhatsApp chat screenshots reveal repeated demands to 'send here' for documents. Alongside continual video and voice calls, indicating relentless surveillance over the victims. In a captured mobile screen image, 'Screen Broadcast / WhatsApp Screen Sharing' is active, illustrating live monitoring of the victim's phone by the scammers. Their scrutiny extends to banking apps, messages, and notifications.
