Massive Cyber Crime Operation Shakes Delhi
In one of its most extensive crackdowns on digital financial crimes, the Delhi Police has successfully concluded Operation CyHawk, a month-long intelligence-driven campaign targeting organized cyber fraud networks operating throughout the capital. The operation represents a significant milestone in India's fight against cyber-enabled financial crimes.
Intel-Driven Strategy and Key Leadership
The special operation was launched following extensive analytical groundwork conducted in partnership with the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) under the Ministry of Home Affairs. Police teams employed sophisticated techniques to map cyber hotspots, monitor mule accounts used for laundering stolen funds, analyze suspicious financial transactions, and examine digital footprints.
The investigation successfully linked thousands of mobile numbers to active complaint trails, creating a comprehensive picture of the organized crime networks. The enforcement sweep was spearheaded by Special Commissioners of Police Madhup Tewari and Anil Shukla, with crucial joint coordination provided by Joint CP IFSO Rajneesh Gupta and Joint CP South Range S K Jain.
Staggering Arrests and Financial Impact
During the citywide enforcement action, police teams rounded up over 4,300 suspects for questioning. From this massive pool, authorities arrested or bound down 877 individuals based on concrete financial and technical evidence gathered during the operation.
In a significant legal move, 509 people connected to backward financial chains were issued formal notices under Section 35 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS). The police registered 360 new FIRs against identified cyber fraudsters while also making arrests in 160 previously pending cases.
The financial scale of the uncovered fraud is monumental. Investigators traced fraudulent transactions worth over ₹1,000 crore, reported from victims across India, to various Delhi-based accounts linked to organized cyber crime modules. Additionally, police connected 3,777 complaints filed on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (NCRP) to identified mule accounts.
Illegal Call Centers and Evidence Recovery
Operation CyHawk led to the neutralization of multiple illegal call centers that were actively operating various scams targeting citizens nationwide. These centers were running sophisticated fraud operations including:
- Fake job placement schemes
- Customer-care impersonation scams
- Fraudulent investment traps
- Technical support frauds
Raids conducted across several Delhi districts resulted in the recovery of substantial digital evidence, including mobile phones, laptops, hard drives, SIM cards, debit and credit cards, along with detailed ledgers and handwritten registers documenting the illegal operations.
Police officials have indicated that significant follow-up action is expected, including additional arrests as the investigation continues to unfold. Operation CyHawk stands as one of the most comprehensive actions against cyber financial crime in Delhi's recent history, demonstrating the evolving capabilities of law enforcement against digital fraud networks.
