Gujarat CID arrests 6 more in ₹804-cr cyber fraud linked to Dubai, over 1,500 cases traced

The Cyber Centre of Excellence of CID Crime, Gujarat, has arrested six more suspects allegedly involved in a massive cyber-fraud syndicate that operated from Dubai and is linked to 1,549 cybercrime offences worth nearly ₹804 crore across India.

According to officials, the network lured citizens from several states into opening new bank accounts, obtaining their ATM cards and registered SIM cards, and sending these to handlers in Dubai. These accounts were then used to route and launder proceeds from large-scale online fraud.

The officals raided locations in Surat, resulting in the arrest of 10 accused. Of these, six additional suspects were formally arrested on Wednesday.

A year-long operation to open bank accounts and funnel fraud money to Dubai

Investigators said the accused formed a criminal conspiracy over the past year to earn illegal commissions by facilitating cyber-fraud operations. They allegedly opened hundreds of bank accounts, collected ATM cards and SIM cards from account holders, and passed them to associates in Dubai, where the fraud syndicate operated online scams.

Fraudulent funds were deposited into these accounts, circulated through multiple layers, withdrawn in cash, and finally delivered to handlers all under the guise of a scrap metal business.

Scrap trucks used as cover for money movement

Three of those arrested Sazeb Firozbhai Kherani, Sohil Sadruddin Wadhwania, and Aminbhai Akbarbhai Bhayani, all from Surat allegedly dispatched over 200 scrap-laden trucks worth more than ₹20 crore to the alleged kingpin Amir Altaf Halani. In exchange, they reportedly received cash generated through online fraud, making their business a cover for laundering.

Police said Sazeb even destroyed his mobile phone in an attempt to wipe digital evidence.

Another pair of accused Kamlesh Ashok Sen and Sagar Ashok Sen, both from Surat — allegedly supplied around 270 bank accounts and 300 SIM cards to the Dubai-based mastermind, earning ₹1,000 per SIM card and ₹50,000 per bank account.

The sixth accused, Rahul Kumar Rajesh Kumar Wala of Devgadh Baria, allegedly acted as a payment processor, withdrawing cybercrime proceeds and delivering them to co-accused through Angadia channels for a 1% commission.

Modus operandi: digital arrest, investment scams, loan frauds and more

CID officials said the syndicate used a wide range of cyber-fraud techniques, including:

* Digital arrest scams

* Investment and share-trading fraud

* UPI-linked fraud

* Deposit fraud

* Loan scams

* Part-time job scams

The criminals used fabricated identities on SMS, WhatsApp and Telegram to lure victims with promises of “high returns” and forced them to transfer money into mule accounts.

Six accused arrested

Those arrested are:

1. Kamlesh Ashok Sen, Surat

2. Sagar Ashok Sen, Surat

3. Rahul Kumar Rajesh Kumar Agarwal, Devgadh Baria

4. Sazeb Firozbhai Kherani, Surat

5. Sohil Sadruddin Wadhwania, Surat

6. Aminbhai Akbarbhai Bhayani, Surat

Officials said six mobile phones were recovered during the operation.

Investigation continues

CID Crime is now tracing financial trails, digital evidence and links to overseas handlers. Police said more arrests are likely as the network spans multiple states and involves several layers of operators.