A 63-year-old surgeon renowned for his selfless service to impoverished patients has become the latest victim of a sophisticated “digital arrest” scam, losing his entire life savings of Rs 49 lakh to cyber criminals posing as law enforcement officials.
Dr Sadagar Deuri, a Professor of Surgery at Jorhat Medical College and Hospital (JMCH), filed a complaint on December 26 with the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Jorhat after falling prey to the month-long fraud scheme.
Known affectionately as “Dukhiyar Bandhu” or “Friend of the Poor,” Dr Deuri has spent his entire career treating underprivileged patients, often using his own earnings to cover their medical expenses.
The unmarried doctor, who lives modestly in a small rented room with minimal possessions, became ensnared in the elaborate scam on November 19 when he received a WhatsApp video call from an unknown number (8018621096). The caller, claiming to be Sub-Inspector Shivaprasad of Bengaluru Police, accused Dr Deuri of being involved in 17 criminal cases related to obscene material.
According to the complaint, when Dr Deuri refused demands to travel to Bengaluru, the fraudsters escalated their tactics by invoking the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and displaying his Aadhaar details on screen. They accused him of selling his ATM card during a financial crisis, alleging that Rs 3 crore in fraudulent transactions had occurred through 150 ATM withdrawals from his Canara Bank account.
The perpetrators subjected Dr Deuri to sustained psychological pressure, forcing him to remain on continuous video calls under the pretense of an ongoing investigation. Citing provisions of the National Security Act, they prohibited him from disclosing the matter to anyone and demanded he share property details, send videos of his residence, and provide regular location updates.
To bolster their fabricated case, the scammers sent forged documents including fake FIR copies and fraudulent Supreme Court notifications. Under relentless intimidation and fear of imminent arrest, Dr Deuri was coerced into transferring funds as a “security deposit” that would purportedly be returned.
Between November 24 and December 20, the doctor made five separate transactions totaling Rs 49 lakh, with the first transfer on November 24 alone amounting to Rs 25 lakh and the final payment being Rs 5 lakh made on December 20. Later upon realising he had been deceived by a well-orchestrated scheme involving fake identities, spoofed phone numbers, and fabricated legal threats, Dr Deuri reported the matter to the police.
Jorhat SSP Subhrajyoti Borah confirmed that the police cyber cell has launched an intensive investigation. “We are working to trace the money trail and coordinate with the banks to freeze the beneficiary accounts,” Borah stated.
