A Russian national, Anatoly Mironov, was arrested by Gujarat police in relation to a digital arrest scam where a businessman was duped of Rs 17 lakh. Mironov, a "gatekeeper" for a cybercrime gang, was involved in laundering proceeds from the crime, converting some of the funds into cryptocurrency. He had entered India on a tourist visa and was previously involved in a similar fraud case in Pune, Maharashtra.

The scam began when a city-based businessman reported being extorted by fraudsters posing as Customs and police officials. The victim was told that a parcel in his name containing fake passports, ATM cards, and drugs had been seized by Customs. The fraudsters coerced him into transferring Rs 17 lakh into an account belonging to Mahefulalam Shah. Shah had been manipulated by an agent, Nadim Pathan, to rent out his account for these illicit activities.

Mironov's role in the scam was crucial. After the victim transferred the money, Mironov, along with accomplices, moved the funds into other bank accounts and converted a portion into cryptocurrency, as directed by his Chinese boss. Mironov was arrested following the investigation, which revealed his involvement as a "gatekeeper," monitoring the operations of other agents and ensuring the smooth transfer of illicit funds across borders.

The arrest highlights the growing issue of international cybercrime, where gangs use digital means to carry out complex fraud schemes, often involving cryptocurrency for laundering illicit gains.