BENGALURU: The Karnataka High Court has declined to quash a criminal case against a man accused of falsely presenting himself as an advocate and allegedly collecting more than ₹21 lakh from a widow while promising to help resolve her property dispute.

Justice Suraj Govindaraj, hearing the petition, held that the allegations in the complaint, if taken at face value at this preliminary stage, disclosed circumstances warranting a criminal investigation. The court rejected the argument that the matter was purely civil because it arose from a property dispute.

Woman Allegedly Paid More Than ₹21 Lakh

The case arose from a complaint filed by a widow who was involved in a dispute concerning property and was looking for assistance in resolving related litigation.

According to the allegations before the court, one of the accused allegedly introduced himself as a lawyer and claimed that he could assist the woman in dealing with the pending legal matter. She allegedly relied on those representations and subsequently paid the accused more than ₹21 lakh.

The complaint further alleges that the accused did not possess the legal credentials he represented himself as having. The exact circumstances surrounding the payments and the representations made to the woman remain matters for investigation.

Accused Sought Cancellation of FIR

The accused approached the Karnataka High Court seeking to have the FIR and subsequent proceedings quashed.

His argument was that the dispute essentially concerned property and money and should therefore be treated as a civil matter. On that basis, the petitioner contended that allowing a criminal case to continue was inappropriate.

The High Court did not accept that submission at the stage of investigation.

The court examined whether the allegations, on their face, disclosed ingredients of a criminal offence. It concluded that the complaint contained allegations that went beyond a simple disagreement over property or repayment of money.

Civil Dispute Can Also Involve Criminal Offences

A central point in the court’s decision was the distinction between civil and criminal proceedings.

The existence of a civil dispute does not automatically prevent criminal action where the allegations also disclose conduct that may constitute an offence. If a complaint alleges that a person obtained money by making a false representation or by deliberately inducing another person to rely on that representation, the matter may warrant investigation under criminal law.

In this case, the allegation that the accused allegedly posed as an advocate was particularly relevant because the woman was reportedly seeking legal assistance in connection with ongoing property litigation.

The court therefore found that the criminal investigation should not be stopped merely because the underlying dispute involved property.

Alleged False Legal Credentials Under Investigation

The allegation concerning the accused’s identity as a lawyer forms an important part of the complaint.

According to the case placed before the High Court, the woman allegedly believed that the accused possessed the necessary legal credentials and could help resolve her dispute. The alleged representation was followed by the transfer of more than ₹21 lakh.

Whether the accused actually made the alleged representations, whether he falsely claimed to be an advocate and whether the payments were obtained through deception are factual questions that remain to be established through investigation and evidence.

High Court Says Investigation Should Continue

The High Court’s refusal to quash the FIR means that investigators can continue examining the allegations.

Kerala Police have arrested a man at Hyderabad’s Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in connection with an alleged digital arrest scam in which an 80-year-old doctor from Kasaragod was reportedly defrauded of ₹1.19 crore.

The accused has been identified as Shamsad Choorakuth, a resident of Malattur in Malappuram. Police had issued a lookout circular after discovering that he had travelled abroad for employment.

Investigators allege that Choorakuth and his associates impersonated Mumbai Crime Branch officials and used threats of criminal action to pressure the elderly doctor into transferring large amounts of money.

Doctor Targeted Through Fake Mumbai Crime Branch Calls

According to investigators, the fraud took place between November 24 and December 17, 2025.

The victim, who lives in Nileswaram in Kasaragod, allegedly received repeated phone calls and WhatsApp video calls from people claiming to be Mumbai Crime Branch officers.

The callers reportedly told the doctor that his name had surfaced in a money-laundering investigation. They then falsely informed him that he was under “digital arrest” and instructed him to follow their directions.

The scammers allegedly maintained pressure on the victim by threatening him with legal consequences and claiming that transferring money to designated bank accounts would help establish his innocence.

Under the pressure, the doctor reportedly transferred a total of ₹1,19,35,000 from multiple bank accounts to accounts allegedly controlled by the fraudsters.

Suspect Intercepted at Hyderabad Airport

After receiving the doctor’s complaint, Kasaragod Cyber Police began investigating the financial transactions and communication records connected to the case.

During the investigation, police learned that Choorakuth had travelled outside India for work. Authorities subsequently issued a lookout circular covering immigration checkpoints.

On September 17, immigration officials at Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in Hyderabad reportedly intercepted Choorakuth after he arrived in the country and informed Kerala Police.

A cyber police team from Kasaragod travelled to Hyderabad and took custody of the suspect. Following his formal arrest, he was produced before the Kasaragod Chief Judicial Magistrate Court, which remanded him to 14 days of judicial custody.

Police Trace Money Trail and Other Suspects

Investigators are now examining the movement of the ₹1.19 crore allegedly transferred by the victim.

Police are scrutinising the bank accounts that received the funds and analysing communication records believed to connect the accused with other members of the suspected cybercrime network.

The investigation is aimed at determining Choorakuth’s specific role and identifying additional individuals who may have participated in the operation.

How Digital Arrest Scams Work

Digital arrest frauds typically rely on impersonation, intimidation and prolonged online interactions.

Scammers may pose as police officers, investigators, judges or other government officials and falsely accuse victims of involvement in serious crimes such as money laundering or financial fraud.

Victims are often told that they are under investigation or “digital arrest” and are instructed to remain connected through phone or video calls. The criminals then use threats of arrest, prosecution or account freezing to pressure victims into transferring money.

The Kasaragod case follows this pattern, with the elderly doctor allegedly being kept under sustained psychological pressure before transferring his savings.

Investigation Continues

The arrest at Hyderabad airport has provided investigators with an opportunity to examine the suspected financial and communication network behind the alleged fraud.

Authorities are expected to continue analysing bank transactions, digital communications and other evidence to identify the wider network and determine whether additional victims or financial accounts are connected to the case.

Kerala Police have arrested a man at Hyderabad’s Rajiv Gandhi International Airport over an alleged digital arrest scam in which an 80-year-old doctor from Kasaragod was reportedly cheated of ₹1.19 crore.

The accused, identified as Shamsad Choorakuth, a resident of Malattur in Malappuram, was intercepted by immigration officials after police issued a lookout circular against him. Investigators allege that he was part of a group that impersonated Mumbai Crime Branch officers to intimidate the elderly victim and extract money from him.

Fraudsters Claimed Doctor Was Linked to Money Laundering Case

The alleged fraud occurred between November 24 and December 17, 2025.

The doctor, who lives in Nileswaram, Kasaragod, reportedly received repeated phone calls and WhatsApp video calls from individuals claiming to represent the Mumbai Crime Branch.

The callers allegedly told him that his name had been connected to a money-laundering investigation. They then claimed that he had been placed under “digital arrest” and warned him of serious legal consequences.

Using these threats, the fraudsters allegedly instructed the victim to transfer money into several bank accounts as part of a supposed process to clear his name.

The doctor ultimately transferred ₹1,19,35,000 from multiple bank accounts to accounts allegedly controlled by the suspects.

Lookout Circular Leads to Airport Interception

After the victim reported the incident, Kasaragod Cyber Police began investigating the financial transactions and communications associated with the alleged fraud.

During the investigation, police reportedly discovered that Choorakuth had travelled overseas for employment. Authorities subsequently issued a lookout circular to immigration checkpoints.

On September 17, immigration officials at Hyderabad airport reportedly intercepted him after his arrival and notified Kerala Police.

A cybercrime team from Kasaragod then travelled to Hyderabad and took custody of the suspect. Following his arrest, Choorakuth was produced before the Kasaragod Chief Judicial Magistrate Court, which remanded him to 14 days of judicial custody.

Police Investigate Financial Trail

Investigators are now examining the movement of the ₹1.19 crore allegedly transferred by the victim.

Police are checking the bank accounts used in the transactions and analysing communication records to determine Choorakuth’s alleged links with other members of the suspected fraud network.

The investigation is also focused on establishing the accused’s precise role and identifying other people who may have been involved in the operation.

What Is a Digital Arrest Scam?

Digital arrest scams are a form of cyber fraud in which criminals impersonate police officers, government officials, investigators or judicial authorities.

Fraudsters typically tell victims that they are involved in a criminal investigation and use threats of arrest, prosecution or account restrictions to create fear.

Victims may be kept on prolonged phone or video calls while being instructed to transfer money to accounts controlled by the scammers.

In this case, investigators allege that the same tactic was used to convince the elderly doctor that he needed to transfer money to avoid criminal proceedings.

Investigation Into Wider Network Continues

The arrest at Hyderabad airport is now part of a wider investigation into the alleged cyber fraud network.

Police are expected to follow the financial trail and examine digital communications to identify additional suspects and determine whether other people were targeted using similar methods.

The case also highlights the growing use of impersonation and intimidation in online financial scams targeting elderly victims.