ED arrests Kolkata man for laundering digital-arrest proceeds via mule accounts

This is a press release issued by the Directorate of Enforcement (ED), Jalandhar Zonal Office, announcing the arrest of Sohel Akthar @ Raju under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, in connection with a cybercrime case involving the digital arrest of S.P. Oswal. It matters to citizens as it details the methods used by fraudsters to launder proceeds of crime, including the use of mule accounts and cryptocurrency.

Who it concerns: The document concerns Sohel Akthar @ Raju (arrested), Rumi Kalita, Arpit Rathore, Anand Chaudhary, Atanu Chaudhary, M/s Rigglo Ventures Private Limited, M/s Frozenman Warehousing & Logistics, the victim S.P. Oswal, and the Directorate of Enforcement (ED).

What the ED says it did

• Sohel Akthar @ Raju was arrested on 28.09.2026 in Kolkata under PMLA, 2002.
• The Hon’ble Additional District and Sessions Judge, Jalandhar remanded Sohel Akthar @ Raju to ED custody for 7 days until 06.10.2026.
• The ED investigation was initiated based on an FIR registered by Cyber Crime Police Station Ludhiana under BNSS, 2023, and included nine additional FIRs related to digital arrest cybercrimes.
• Fraudsters impersonating CBI and judiciary officials extorted Rs. 7 Crore from S.P. Oswal.
• Proceeds of crime were credited to bank accounts of M/s Rigglo Ventures Private Limited and M/s Frozenman Warehousing & Logistics.
• An APK application named ‘AMMFORWARD’ was used for routing proceeds of crime.
• Sohel Akthar @ Raju controlled M/s Rigglo Ventures Private Limited accounts and recruited individuals for mule bank accounts.
• Mobile phones with pre-downloaded APK files were used to allow foreign-based associates in Nepal to access OTPs and SMS messages.
• Commission was received by accused persons in the form of cryptocurrency in Binance accounts.
• A Provisional Attachment Order of Rs. 1.76 Crores was issued on 14.02.2026.
• A Prosecution Complaint was filed on 19.02.2026 against Rumi Kalita, Arpit Rathore, Anand Chaudhary, Atanu Chaudhary, and M/s Frozenman Warehousing & Logistics.

Also in the document

• Rumi Kalita and Arpit Rathore were arrested on 23.12.2025 and 31.12.2025, respectively.
• Mule bank accounts were opened by inducing economically vulnerable individuals with false promises of loans or employment.
• Proceeds of crime were layered through shell entities and remitted outside India using trade-based money laundering mechanisms.
• End-to-end encrypted private mobile messaging applications were used to share mule bank account details with foreign associates.