Farmer in Vadodara Dies by Suicide After Digital Arrest Scam; First Such Case in Gujarat

Vadodara: In a shocking incident, a 65-year-old farmer from Kayavarohan village in Vadodara district died by suicide after falling victim to a digital arrest scam — the first reported case of its kind in Gujarat. The deceased, Atulbhai Hirabhai Patel of Kaka Ram’s Faliya, was threatened by cyber fraudsters posing as officials from the Delhi ATS (Anti-Terrorism Squad).

Threatened Over Fake ₹40 Crore Fraud Case

Fraudsters called Atulbhai and claimed he was involved in a ₹40 crore bank fraud case. They told him he was under investigation and kept him under “digital arrest” for an entire day, forcing him to stay at home and answer continuous WhatsApp audio and video calls every few minutes.

Under extreme fear and pressure, Atulbhai consumed poison at 5 AM on Monday, November 17. He was rushed to the hospital but passed away the next morning.

Family in Shock

His nephew, Ansh Patel, said Atulbhai had been restless for three days but did not share anything with anyone. Ansh said his uncle later revealed that he had received repeated threatening calls from people claiming to be Delhi Police officials.

The callers repeatedly warned him not to leave the house. Video calls on his phone showed a WhatsApp symbol with two flags and a “3C” mark, but there was no other evidence in the chats.

The family plans to file an FIR and has demanded strict action against the criminals.

Dabhoi Police Begin Investigation

Dabhoi police have started an investigation into the case. The incident has left Kayavarohan village in deep grief, with locals shocked that a respected farmer fell prey to such a scam.

Rise in Digital Arrest Cases

According to the Central Government, 2.42 lakh digital arrest cases were reported between 2022 and February 2025 — nearly 200 cases per day.
In the past three years, cybercriminals have cheated people of ₹2,575 crore.
In Gujarat alone, people have lost ₹2,746 crore to different cyber frauds in the last four years.

How to Stay Safe from Digital Arrest Scams

Authorities have issued several warnings to help citizens avoid such fraud:

• If you receive threatening calls pretending to be police or ATS, immediately call 1930 (Cybercrime Helpline).

• Police or government agencies never contact individuals through WhatsApp or threaten arrests on calls.

• If scammers claim your courier contains drugs or ask you to install apps like Skype, do not follow their instructions.

• Never share Aadhaar, PAN, or personal details.

• Never show your face during video KYC.

• If possible, take screenshots of calls and chats before they delete them.

• Fraudsters first try to create fear, and sometimes offer greed. Staying alert can help prevent such crimes.

Family Appeals for Awareness

Ansh Patel urged people not to panic in such situations and to immediately reach out to cybercrime authorities. He said that rising cyber frauds are destroying lives and that awareness is crucial to prevent further tragedies.