Kochi: A member of a gang allegedly involved in cheating a retired judge in Rajasthan of Rs 2.5 crore by threatening him with a ‘digital arrest’ was arrested from Kochi on Monday.The accused allegedly told the complainant that he was linked to hawala transactions and would be arrested. The gang then allegedly extorted money from him.The arrested man is Anand Babu, of Varapuzha, Ernakulam. A police team from Rajasthan reached Kochi and sought assistance from Ernakulam central assistant commissioner Siby Tom. Following this, the investigation team of the Ernakulam Central ACP, along with the Rajasthan Police, arrested the accused from Varapuzha.More people from Kerala were reportedly involved in the case.Seven held in multiple theft cases: Seven individuals involved in multiple theft cases within the Aluva police station limits were arrested in the past two days by the Ernakulam Rural police.The arrested individuals are Baiju, 47, from Mundayad, Kannur; Raju Sheikh, 29, from Murshidabad, West Bengal; Rashidul, 19, Anwar, 32, and Shahjahan, 22, from Nagaon, Assam; Arun, 19, from Munambam; and Stevin Stanley, 19, from Chalakkal, Chengamanad.Baiju and Sheikh scaled the wall of a scrap godown in Pulinchodu, Aluva, and allegedly stole copper cables worth Rs 39,000.Rashidul, Anwar, and Shahjahan allegedly stole a mobile phone from a car parked near a jewellery store in Aluva.Arun and Stanley attempted to steal a bike from a porch in the Millumpadi Farm Road area of Veliyathunad.The accused from Assam and those who attempted to steal the bike are also involved in other similar criminal offences.All seven individuals were produced before the court and remanded.On Sunday, two brothers were arrested for allegedly stealing a bag containing gold ornaments, a mobile phone and other valuables from a person who had gone swimming at Vypeen Beach.The theft occurred on Thursday. The bag reportedly contained a gold chain weighing around 2.5 sovereigns, a one-sovereign wedding ring, a mobile phone worth around Rs 80,000 and other belongings. The accused had seen the man keeping the valuables in his bag before going to the sea.One of the accused was previously suspected of stealing from houses in the area and cutting electrical wiring in abandoned houses, burning it to extract copper and selling it.