UN-retired couple lose Rs 15 cr in 15 days: Cyber thugs set up fake SC bench, even threatened Delhi SHO

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• Delhi doctor couple lost Rs 15 crore in cyber fraud by fake police and court
• Fraudsters held victims under "digital arrest" for 15 days via video calls
• Delhi Police's cyber unit is investigating the sophisticated scam

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In an audacious cyber fraud case that has stunned investigators, an elderly doctor couple in Delhi was swindled of approximately Rs 15 crore after being held under “digital arrest” by criminals who orchestrated an elaborate fiction involving not only fake police but, in a chilling first for India, a counterfeit Supreme Court bench and judge.

The victims, Dr Om Taneja and his wife, Dr Indira Taneja, both former United Nations employees who returned to India in 2016 after a long career abroad, had their lives upended by a phone call on December 24 2025. The caller, posing as a Delhi Police officer, levelled grave accusations, alleging that a bank account linked to their Aadhaar card had been used for money laundering and drug trafficking.

The facade escalated rapidly. Minutes later, a video call connected, showing individuals in police uniforms against a backdrop featuring the Delhi Police logo. The couple was informed they were under “digital arrest,” forbidden from leaving their Greater Kailash home, speaking to anyone, or disconnecting the call under threat of immediate physical arrest and property confiscation.

The scheme then entered unprecedented territory, according a report by Aaj Tak. In a subsequent video call, the fraudsters presented a fabricated court room. A man, robed in a black coat and seated before a court-like setup complete with official-looking portraits on the wall, posed as a judge. This marked the first documented instance in India of cyber criminals constructing a fake Supreme Court bench to legitimise their extortion.

According to Aaa Tak, when Dr Om Taneja grew suspicious and attempted to speak to a local station house officer (SHO), the criminals threatened him over video. The impersonated judge explicitly stated that the case was under the direct supervision of the Supreme Court and that local police could not intervene, a claim that left Dr Taneja “completely devastated.”

For 15 agonising days, from December 24 to January 9, the couple remained captive in their own home, under constant video surveillance. The criminals, operating with professional precision, forced them to transfer money to various bank accounts under the guise of investigation fees, bail bonds and court verification costs. Each demand was backed by convincingly forged documents — arrest memos, court orders and bank notices bearing seals that mimicked government stationery.

In total, Rs 14.85 crore, the life savings accrued from decades of work, was systematically drained from their accounts.

The ruse finally unravelled on January 10. The callers reportedly instructed Dr Indira Taneja to visit her local police station, claiming the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) would now refund the money and that the police had been notified.

She went to the station while still on a video call, even allowing the scammers to speak directly with the SHO, whom they addressed rudely. It was only there, confronted by baffled police personnel, that she realised the promised refund was fictitious and grasped the monumental scale of the fraud. The couple is now said to be in profound shock.

Delhi Police has registered a first information report (FIR) and, citing the extreme seriousness and sophistication of the offence, has transferred the investigation to the Special Cell’s elite cyber unit, the Intelligence Fusion and Strategic Operations (IFSO). A comprehensive probe is underway, examining the complex trail of bank transactions, IP addresses, call records and the sophisticated fraudulent documents.