Major Cyber Crime Bust: Five Arrested in Rs 930 Crore Fraud Network Across India
The Cyber Centre of Excellence (CCoE) has made significant arrests in a massive cyber crime case, apprehending five individuals from Gujarat and Maharashtra for allegedly orchestrating financial transactions worth Rs 930 crore. This sophisticated network exploited 1,535 victims spread across 25 states and 3 Union Territories through 80 mule bank accounts.
Details of the Arrests and Accused Individuals
According to official statements released on Thursday, the arrested individuals have been identified as Abdul Hafeez Panwala and Mushtaq Abdul Khalid Khanani from Gir-Somnath district, along with Gagji Manji Rajput from Ahmedabad, Gujarat. Additionally, two suspects from Thane, Maharashtra—Shabbir Mohammad Hanif Bhadela and Mohammad Taha Shabbir Bhadela—were taken into custody. The arrests followed a coordinated raid in Surat led by Detective Inspector B M Choudhary, which was initiated based on credible intelligence.
Modus Operandi of the Cyber Fraud Syndicate
The CCoE investigation revealed that the accused operated as part of a pre-planned criminal conspiracy aimed at defrauding victims. Their method involved opening bank accounts in their own names as well as using documents from others who were paid commissions. These accounts, known as "mule accounts," were used to receive proceeds from various cyber crimes.
The gang employed multiple fraudulent tactics, including creating false identities and contacting potential victims through SMS, WhatsApp, or Telegram. They lured or threatened individuals with scams such as digital arrest, investment fraud, UPI fraud, deposit fraud, loan fraud, and job fraud. Once money was stolen, it was deposited into the mule accounts and subsequently withdrawn from Dubai using Forex pre-paid cards, ultimately being delivered to an international syndicate.
Scale of the Fraud and Geographic Spread
During the investigation, the CCoE uncovered a total of 1,535 complaints filed against the 80 bank accounts involved in this case. The financial impact amounted to a staggering Rs 930 crore, highlighting the extensive reach and severity of the fraud. The complaints originated from a wide geographic distribution, including:
- Gujarat (264 complaints)
- Maharashtra (215 complaints)
- Karnataka (156 complaints)
- Tamil Nadu (106 complaints)
- Uttar Pradesh (101 complaints)
- Telangana (97 complaints)
- Rajasthan (89 complaints)
- Delhi (73 complaints)
- Haryana (56 complaints)
- Kerala (55 complaints)
- Andhra Pradesh (53 complaints)
- Bengal (51 complaints)
- Bihar (43 complaints)
- Punjab (28 complaints)
- Odisha (26 complaints)
- Madhya Pradesh (26 complaints)
- Assam (16 complaints)
- Jammu and Kashmir (15 complaints)
- Uttarakhand (13 complaints)
- Jharkhand (12 complaints)
- Chhattisgarh (11 complaints)
- Goa (10 complaints)
- Himachal Pradesh (7 complaints)
- Arunachal Pradesh (3 complaints)
- Nagaland (3 complaints)
- Chandigarh (2 complaints)
- Tripura (2 complaints)
- Meghalaya (2 complaints)
This widespread distribution underscores the pan-India nature of the cyber crime operation, affecting victims from diverse regions across the country.
Ongoing Investigation and Future Steps
The CCoE has emphasized that further investigation is currently underway to uncover additional details and potentially identify more individuals involved in this extensive network. The use of mule accounts and international connections complicates the case, requiring continued scrutiny and cooperation with law enforcement agencies.
This arrest marks a significant step in combating cyber crime in India, shedding light on the sophisticated methods used by fraudsters to exploit digital platforms for financial gain. Authorities are urging the public to remain vigilant against such scams and report any suspicious activities to prevent further victimization.
