Enforcement Directorate arrests lawyer in ₹28,000 crore cyber fraud case

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has arrested lawyer Rashesh Upadhyay, also known as Rashesh Shah, at Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport. The arrest is part of a massive investigation into a cyber fraud and ‘digital arrest’ scam involving approximately ₹28,000 crore in banking transactions.

The investigation originated from a complaint filed by the Goa Police in June 2025, involving a victim who was defrauded of ₹2.60 crore under the guise of a ‘digital arrest’. Investigators found that the stolen funds were laundered through approximately 400 mule bank accounts linked to companies in the travel, commodity, and foreign exchange sectors. These companies allegedly operated using fake directors to facilitate the movement of money, which was eventually withdrawn as cash or converted into foreign currency.

Upadhyay was apprehended by the ED’s Panaji unit with assistance from the Customs Department and CISF while attempting to board a flight to Delhi. He has been remanded to ED custody until October 29. This arrest brings the total number of individuals detained in connection with this specific case to seven.