GANDHINAGAR | April 22, 2026 :In a major crackdown on rising cybercrime, the Cyber Centre of Excellence in Gandhinagar, under the CID Crime & Railways wing, has dismantled a massive cyber fraud network worth over ₹288 crore. A total of eight accused were arrested from Unjha, Bhavnagar, Rajkot, and Surat during coordinated raids.
The operation was carried out following strict directives from senior officials, including Director General of Police (CID Crime & Railways) Dr. K. Laxmi Narayan Rao and Inspector General (Crime-4) Bipin Ahire. The teams worked under the supervision of SPs Dr. Rajdeepsinh Zala, Sanjaykumar Keshwala, and Vivek Bheda.
Over the past month, “Operation Mule Hunt 2.0” has revealed the alarming scale of cyber fraud activities:
- Total arrests: 40
- Total fraud amount detected: ₹622 crore
- Total complaints registered: 1,039
Modus operandi
The accused operated by opening multiple bank accounts in the names of firms (often fake or proxy entities) and individuals. These “mule accounts” were used to receive money obtained through cyber fraud. The funds were then withdrawn in cash and routed through informal channels such as angadia (hawala-like courier systems), allowing the gang to conceal identities and earn commissions.
Despite being aware that the funds were proceeds of cybercrime, the accused facilitated illegal transactions for financial gain.
Surat & Bhavnagar Connection
- Linked to 181 cyber fraud complaints and 81 FIRs nationwide
- Estimated fraud: ₹174+ crore
- Seized: 4 mobile phones, 1 laptop
- Data recovered:
- 125 shell firms
- 65 fake identities
- 868 forged invoices
Unjha Link
- Linked to 125 cyber fraud cases via the 1930 helpline portal
- Estimated fraud: ₹114+ crore
- Seized: 2 mobile phones
- Key roles included opening multiple bank accounts and distributing fraud money for commission
Rajkot Connection
- Linked to 26 complaints and 1 FIR
- Estimated fraud: ₹59.79 lakh+
The investigation revealed involvement in multiple types of financial cybercrimes, including:
- Online financial fraud
- Internet banking fraud
- UPI-related fraud
- Demat/depository fraud
- Investment scams
- Deposit fraud
Authorities have urged citizens to remain cautious:
- Do not share bank account details with anyone, even trusted individuals
- Avoid opening or lending bank accounts for commission
- Account holders are legally responsible for all transactions
Victims of cybercrime—including sextortion, morphed images, or online scams—are encouraged to report immediately via the national cybercrime helpline 1930 or contact the nearest cyber police station. Officials assured confidentiality in sensitive cases.
The successful operation involved a large team of CID Crime officers, police inspectors, sub-inspectors, constables, and technical experts who coordinated intelligence and field operations across multiple cities.
