Who is Rashesh Upadhyay? What's the cyber fraud, digital arrest case against him? How was he caught by the ED? Explained

Rashesh Upadhyay, also known as Rashesh Shah, is an advocate currently under arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in India. He was apprehended at Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport on October 24, 2025, as he attempted to board a flight to Delhi. The ED team intercepted him with assistance from customs officials and the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF).

Upadhyay is accused of being a key figure in a nationwide cyber fraud and digital arrest scheme allegedly involved in significant money laundering. The case, which began on June 9, 2025, centers on an alleged network linked to over ₹28,000 crore in banking transactions and approximately ₹2,900 crore in cash deposits. According to the ED, Upadhyay allegedly helped release bank accounts linked to the operation after police complaints, arranging bribes for officials through a network of private cash intermediaries known as angadiyas.

He was remanded to ED custody until October 29. The investigation into the digital arrest scams, where fraudsters impersonate law enforcement to coerce victims into transferring money, has expanded beyond the original complaint of a woman in Goa who was allegedly "digitally arrested" between May 21 and June 2, 2025. The scam involved routing funds through around 400 mule accounts associated with various companies, and the funds were later withdrawn in cash and converted to foreign currency.