Rajkot Police Operation Mule Hunt Intensifies with Arrest of Telangana Cyberfraud Mastermind
In a significant escalation of their crackdown on cybercrime, the Rajkot Rural police have made three additional arrests as part of Operation Mule Hunt, including a key perpetrator from Telangana. This latest development has exposed a sophisticated money laundering scheme utilizing bank accounts associated with firms registered under the Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC). The total amount involved has surged dramatically from an initial estimate of Rs 400 crore to a staggering Rs 1,500 crore, highlighting the scale of the illicit network.
Key Arrests and Investigation Details
The Cyber Crime cell team apprehended Adiluddin Mohammad from Telangana, identified as a central figure in the operation, along with two Rajkot residents, Mihir Rangani and Hiren Limbasiya. According to Rajkot Rural Superintendent of Police Vijay Singh Gurjar, the investigation revealed that of the Rs 1,500 crore processed through these accounts, Rs 23.14 crore is linked to approximately 180 cyberfraud complaints registered on the national helpline from across India. Gujarat alone accounted for about Rs 2.94 crore of this reported fraud, with 21 complaints specifically targeting the bank accounts in question.
The arrest of Adiluddin Mohammad followed intensive interrogation of previously detained suspects—Manish Kamani, Jay Nadpara, Rishi Raiyani, Praveensingh Parmar, Mayursingh Vaghela, and Mahendrasinh Jadeja—whose statements pointed directly to the Telangana operative. Authorities tracked down and apprehended Adiluddin using a combination of technical surveillance and human intelligence. Police reports indicate that Adiluddin established the network involving the earlier arrestees, who facilitated the scheme by:
- Lending their bank accounts for illicit transactions.
- Withdrawing money deposited into these accounts.
- Sending the funds to Adiluddin via courier services.
Adiluddin then allegedly forwarded the money to his higher-ups through various channels. A police officer disclosed, "Adiluddin set up firms named Al Adin, Al Munir, and Al Fazil, with investigations uncovering approximately Rs 23 crore deposited in five accounts linked to these entities. The funds in these accounts are believed to originate from cyberfraud, GST fraud, and illegal gaming activities."
Expanded Probe and APMC Connection
The investigation has also implicated Mihir Rangani, who owns a firm called Lauril Agri Export. Two of his bank accounts, linked to the APMC, received deposits totaling around Rs 87 crore, with cyberfraud complaints exceeding Rs 1 crore associated with them. Hiren Limbasiya was identified as a mediator responsible for managing transactions across all bank accounts under Mihir Rangani and Manish Kamani.
The Cyber Cell is actively investigating both the cyberfraud and GST fraud angles of this case. Police revealed that the accused obtained an APMC licence to pose as agricultural produce traders, a cover that allowed them to handle large cash sums without raising suspicion from bank officials and authorities. This strategic move enabled them to operate their racket under the guise of legitimate business activities, further complicating detection efforts.
As Operation Mule Hunt continues, authorities are focusing on dismantling the entire network and recovering the laundered funds, underscoring the ongoing battle against cybercrime in the region.
