In a startling cyber fraud attempt, Justice Vijay Daga, a respected former Bombay High Court judge and senior Supreme Court lawyer, narrowly escaped falling prey to a fake “digital arrest” scam demanding Rs 2 crore.
The incident took place on Wednesday around 11 am, when Justice Daga received a video call from mobile number 6811142996. The caller, dressed in a police uniform and appearing to be in a police station-like setting, alleged that Daga’s phone number was linked to a money extortion case registered at Borivali Police Station in Mumbai (case number MH1045/0725). A fake FIR was also sent to him via WhatsApp.
The caller claimed that a SIM card, supposedly bought in July 2024 using Justice Daga’s Aadhaar details, had been linked to illegal activities. Daga, however, clarified that his Aadhaar had only ever been used for railway reservations. The conversation escalated when the scammer brought up Naresh Goyal, founder of Jet Airways and an accused in a money laundering case, suggesting a connection. The caller further alleged that during a raid, 123 credit cards were recovered, one of them reportedly issued in Daga’s name — and that Rs 2 crore had been transferred to a Canara Bank account opened in his name in 2023.
After Justice Daga denied any involvement, the caller doubled down, claiming a Supreme Court investigation was in progress and demanded an immediate transfer of Rs 2 crore to a “court account.” Daga stood his ground, refusing the demand and stating he would visit the police station himself. The call was then handed over to a woman impersonating a senior officer. She issued fresh threats, warning that Daga would be jailed for three months without bail if he didn’t comply before 2:30 pm. She further claimed that an arrest order had already been issued in Nagpur.
Justice Daga promptly reached out to the Cyber Cell and the High Court protocol officer. Police confirmed that the call was part of a fraud attempt and traced its origin to the Rajasthan-Gujarat border region.
During the 90-minute ordeal, the scammers instructed Daga to isolate himself by locking his room and avoiding any communication with family, calling it a “secret call under the Official Secrets Act.”
Though the experience was mentally taxing, Justice Daga remained composed and took the right steps. “Being a former judge, I could identify the fraud. But what happens to a common man?” he said, referring to a recent incident in which a Nagpur resident lost Rs 78 lakh in a similar scam.
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