Interstate Cyber Fraud Racket Worth ₹53 Crore Busted in Gujarat, 10 Held

Gujarat Police’s Cyber Centre of Excellence (CID Crime) has busted a major interstate cyber fraud racket involving transactions worth more than ₹53 crore, linked to over 132 complaints across India. In a coordinated operation, 10 accused were arrested from Anand and Ahmedabad districts for allegedly facilitating cybercrime proceeds through mule bank accounts.

Officials said the crackdown was carried out under instructions from Director General of Police K.L.N. Rao, with a dedicated team formed under senior supervision, including SP-level officers Dr Rajdeepsinh Zala, Sanjay Keshwala, and Vivek Bheda. The arrests were made following sustained technical surveillance targeting individuals involved in routing illicit funds on a commission basis.

According to investigators, the accused played a key role in collecting and operating mule accounts—bank accounts rented or procured from unsuspecting individuals—which were then used to transfer money obtained through cyber fraud. The scam network was linked to multiple forms of online cheating, including investment fraud, UPI scams, and trading-related deception. Authorities said mobile phone analysis revealed details of 197 bank accounts, of which at least 60 were actively used in cybercrime cases across the country.

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The financial trail uncovered by police shows that approximately ₹53.55 crore was routed through these accounts in 132 registered cybercrime complaints. The fraud cases were spread across several states, including Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Kerala, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Haryana, West Bengal, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Delhi, Bihar, Punjab, Assam, and others, indicating a wide and well-organised interstate network.

Among those arrested are individuals identified as Krupal Desai, Nizamuddin Diwan, Moin Malek, Sahilmia Malek, Sohil Malek, Jignesh Patel, Vanraj Bharwad, Tushar Valand, Rickren alias Rocky or Pandit Patel, and Akash Patel. Police also recovered multiple mobile phones, cheque books, passbooks, and debit cards, which are being examined for further links to the wider network.

Investigators further revealed that one of the accused, Sahilmia Malek, had allegedly provided a Karnataka Bank account used by individuals connected to a high-profile criminal case involving the murder of former Maharashtra minister Baba Siddique. Authorities said one person linked to that account, Salman Vhora, has already been arrested by Maharashtra Police. Meanwhile, officials have issued public warnings against renting out bank accounts or SIM cards, urging citizens to report suspicious cyber activity immediately through helpline 1930 during the critical “golden hour” to help recover stolen funds.

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