In a significant crackdown on digital financial crime, the Detection of Crime Branch (DCB) in Surat has arrested ten individuals for their alleged involvement in a major cyber fraud case originating from Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu. The accused are charged with facilitating the cheating of a senior citizen to the tune of Rs 16.50 lakh.
The Modus Operandi: A Fake RTO Challan Trap
According to the investigation, the entire scam was triggered on September 9, 2025. The victim, a man from Coimbatore, received what appeared to be an RTO challan APK file on his mobile phone. Upon downloading the file, cybercriminals gained remote access to his device. Using this unauthorized access, the fraudsters proceeded to break his fixed deposit of Rs 16.50 lakh and siphon off the entire amount.
How the Surat Accused Facilitated the Fraud
The stolen money was then channeled through a network of bank accounts and credit cards. The ten individuals arrested in Surat allegedly allowed their credit cards and bank accounts to be used to route these fraud proceeds. Police revealed that the accused lived lavish lifestyles funded by credit cards with high limits, typically between Rs 5 lakh and Rs 7 lakh, which were mostly maxed out.
To clear their mounting dues, they were lured by cybercriminals who offered to pay off their credit card bills in exchange for a 2% commission. Tempted by this offer, the accused permitted the fraudsters to make payments to their cards. The criminals would then transfer the stolen money into these accounts, and the accused would return the amount after deducting their small cut, effectively laundering the illicit funds.
Identities of the Accused and Legal Action
The Surat DCB has identified the arrested persons as Rajni Bhadaliya, Vishwas Radadiya, Savan Radadiya, Vijay Gohil, Jitendra Singh Rathod, Mahendra Singh Girase, Miral Chovatiya, Kapil Dhodre, Meet Chovatiya, and Chandan Pal.
The case was originally registered by the Coimbatore cybercrime police on September 12, 2025, under BNS Section 318(4) and Section 66(d) of the Information Technology Act. Following the arrests in Surat, all ten accused have been handed over to the Coimbatore police for further legal proceedings.
This case highlights a growing trend where cybercriminals recruit individuals struggling with debt to become part of their money laundering chain, exploiting financial vulnerabilities to facilitate larger scams targeting unsuspecting victims across the country.
