The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has arrested advocate Rashesh Upadhyay, also known as Rashesh Shah, over an alleged pan-India cyber fraud and digital arrest money-laundering network. ED officials from Panaji intercepted him at Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport on Saturday as he was about to fly to Delhi. He was taken to Panaji and produced before a special Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court, which remanded him in ED custody until October 29. The ED said the alleged network handled banking transactions worth nearly Rs 28,000 crore and made cash deposits of about Rs 2,900 crore. It added that accounts linked to the network were involved in more than 300 complaints and over 160 first information reports across 20 states and Union Territories, with reported losses exceeding Rs 400 crore. The investigation began after Goa Police registered an FIR on June 9, 2025. A woman from Goa was allegedly placed under “digital arrest” by cyber fraudsters, who posed as law enforcement, threatened her, and pressured her into transferring Rs 2.60 crore to several mule accounts between May 21 and June 2, 2025. While banks froze accounts tied to the fraud after police complaints, the ED alleged Upadhyay helped get them released by bribing officials through “Angadiyas”, a private cash-dealing network. The ED also alleged the money was routed through 400 mule accounts linked to commodity, travel and foreign exchange companies operated through dummy directors. Funds were later withdrawn in cash and converted into foreign currency through money changers licensed by the Reserve Bank of India. The ED said Upadhyay enrolled as an advocate but had never appeared or filed a “Vakalatnama” authorising representation for any accused or their companies. The case has now reached seven arrests, with the agency seeking to identify officials who allegedly accepted bribes and trace the full proceeds of the alleged crime.