Delhi Police has registered a case and transferred the investigation to the Special Cell’s cyber unit, the Intelligence Fusion and Strategic Operations (IFSO), citing the gravity of the offence. The couple is reportedly in shock after losing their life savings
An elderly NRI doctor couple in Delhi has fallen victim to a sophisticated cyber fraud, losing nearly Rs 15 crore after being kept under what police have described as a prolonged “digital arrest” for over two weeks. The case has once again highlighted the growing menace of impersonation scams targeting senior citizens and returnee NRIs.
The victims, Dr Om Taneja and his wife Dr Indira Taneja, both retired doctors, had spent close to 48 years in the United States, where they served with the United Nations. After returning to India in 2015 post-retirement, the couple became actively involved in charitable work. Their ordeal began on December 24, 2025, when they received a call from individuals posing as law enforcement officials.
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According to the police complaint, the callers accused the couple of being linked to money laundering and national security violations, invoking stringent laws such as the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA)
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The fraudsters threatened them with arrest warrants and criminal cases, creating a climate of fear and urgency
From December 24 until the morning of January 10, the scammers kept the couple under constant watch through video calls, a coercive tactic known as “digital arrest.” During this period, Dr Indira Taneja, 77, was pressured into transferring large sums of money to eight different bank accounts. Individual transfers ranged from Rs 2 crore to over Rs 2.10 crore, eventually adding up to Rs 14.85 crore.
In her statement to the police, Dr Indira said the fraudsters closely monitored her movements. If she stepped out of the house or attempted to contact anyone, the scammers would immediately initiate video calls on her husband’s phone to ensure she did not raise an alarm. Before every bank visit, she was carefully coached on what to say if questioned by bank officials. Even when a bank manager expressed concern over the unusually large transactions, she repeated the fabricated explanations provided to her.
The scam unraveled on January 10, when the callers instructed her to visit her local police station, claiming the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) would refund the money and that the police had already been informed. She went to the station while still connected to the scammers via video call and even allowed them to speak to the station house officer. It was only then that she realised the promised refund was fictitious and that she had been cheated.
