FIA Books 9 NCCIA Officers for Allegedly Extorting Millions in Ducky Bhai Case

The Federal Investigation Agency’s Anti-Corruption Circle (FIA/ACC) in Lahore has registered a case against nine officials of the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) for allegedly misusing their authority and extorting millions from YouTuber Ducky Bhai’s family.

According to the First Information Report (FIR No. 36/2025), filed on October 27, 2025, a copy of which available with TechJuice, the case stems from an inquiry (No. 219/2025) that exposed large-scale corruption within NCCIA Lahore. The complaint was lodged by Aroob Jatoi, wife of Saad ur Rehman alias “Ducky Bhai,” who claimed that NCCIA officers demanded bribes to provide relief in her husband’s case.

Ducky Bhai Arrest Background

The NCCIA had initially arrested Ducky Bhai on August 17, 2025, at Lahore Airport. The grounds for his arrest were allegations of promoting illegal online gambling and betting applications, such as Binomo, 1xBet, and Bet365, to the public via his social media channels for personal monetary gain, thereby defrauding users. The agency had registered a case against him under multiple sections of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA), 2016, and the Pakistan Penal Code.

Authorities have significantly tightened their regulatory scope on digital celebrities and influencers, a move that gained public momentum in the wake of Ducky Bhai’s arrest by the NCCIA. In this environment of heightened financial scrutiny, the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) intensified its parallel crackdown on tax evasion by launching its AI-powered “Lifestyle Monitoring Cell.”

This cell systematically scans social media platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube to identify influencers whose lavish displays of wealth, including luxury cars, designer wardrobes, and extravagant events, are starkly inconsistent with their minimal or non-existent declared incomes, signaling a concerted effort to force tax compliance and bring all earnings from the digital economy into the national tax net.

FIR Names Nine NCCIA Officials and One Civilian

The FIA FIR names nine accused, including Additional Director Muhammad Sarfraz Chaudhry, Deputy Director (Acting Charge) Zawar Ahmad, Deputy Director Operations Muhammad Usman, Deputy Director Ayaz Khan, Assistant Directors Shoaib Riaz and Mujtaba Zafar, Sub-Inspectors Yasir Ramzan and Ali Raza, and private individual Salman Aziz, identified as a “front man.”

The investigation found that Assistant Director Shoaib Riaz allegedly extorted Rs90 million from Saad ur Rehman’s family through intermediaries. Of this, Rs60 million was reportedly taken in cash, while Rs30 million was collected via three cheques, each worth Rs10 million. The bribe was allegedly distributed among several NCCIA officers and their associates.

According to the inquiry report, out of the total Rs90 million bribe amount, Rs5 million was kept by Shoaib Riaz at the Carzone showroom owned by a close friend of Deputy Director Zawar Ahmed, Rs5 million by Muhammad Usman, Rs5 million by lawyer Chaudhry Usman, Rs2 million by Shoaib Riaz himself, Rs1.5 million was handed to his front man Salman Aziz, and Rs1.05 million was delivered to Additional Director Sarfraz Chaudhry. Riaz allegedly also transferred $326,420 from the accounts of Ducky Bhai to his own account via the Binance cryptocurrency platform.

Investigators also allege that these officers were part of a broader corruption network that collected monthly bribes from call centers and online fraud groups in exchange for leniency or operational support. The funds were allegedly shared among senior officials at the NCCIA headquarters in Islamabad. It is worth mentioning that these officials were reportedly labeled as missing prior to the latest revelation.

The FIA’s competent authority ordered registration of the case under sections 109, 161 of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) and 5(2)47 of the Prevention of Corruption Act. The investigation has been assigned to Assistant Director Syed Zain Ul Abidin of FIA/ACC Lahore, who will determine the role of other officials and private individuals named in the inquiry.

NCCIA Set for Major Overhaul

It was previously reported that the NCCIA is set for a major overhaul following revelations of an alleged cybercrime mafia operating within the institution, prompting the government to take strict disciplinary action against several officials.

Officials confirmed to TechJuice that multiple officers are likely to face termination, alongside comprehensive investigations into their alleged involvement in illegal activities. The probe will focus on irregularities in recruitment, fake promotions, and manipulation of service records to secure unlawful benefits.

Meanwhile, the Punjab government has approved the establishment of a provincial cybercrime wing to address the growing number of digital crimes. The decision follows increasing frustration with the NCCIA’s performance, as the agency has been accused of failing to resolve cases in a timely manner.

Brief History of the Agency

In December 2023, Umar Saif, who was serving as the Caretaker Federal Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunications, announced plans to form the NCCIA to take over the responsibilities of the FIA’s Cybercrime Wing.

Later, on May 3, 2024, Federal Minister for Information Attaullah Tarar reaffirmed the government’s commitment to setting up an agency dedicated to protecting citizens’ digital rights and countering misinformation and propaganda on social media. The same day, the NCCIA was officially established under Section 51 of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act 2016 (PECA), marking the formal dissolution of the FIA’s Cybercrime Wing.