Inter-state cyber fraud racket worth ₹39 crore busted, 2 held in Ahmedabad

The Cyber Centre of Excellence of the Gujarat CID Crime has busted an inter-state cyber fraud racket involving transactions worth over ₹39.41 crore, with the arrest of two alleged key operatives from Ahmedabad.

A special team was constituted under the supervision of Superintendents of Police Dr Rajdeep Singh Jhala, Sanjay Keshwala and Vivek Bheda. The team conducted technical surveillance and human intelligence-based investigation, leading to the arrest of the two accused.

The arrested individuals have been identified as Amit Mahendrabhai Gangera (38), a hair salon manager residing in Vinzol, Ahmedabad, and Ritesh Kumar Bhogilal Patel (42), a stationery trader from the same locality.

According to investigators, the duo allegedly operated on a commission basis by procuring bank accounts from financially distressed traders and renting them out for laundering proceeds of cyber fraud. Examination of their mobile phones reportedly revealed details of 11 additional bank accounts.

Verification through the national cybercrime portal indicated that these accounts were linked to at least 59 cybercrime complaints registered across multiple states, involving a cumulative fraud amount of ₹39.41 Crore

State-wise, the complaints include 13 cases in Maharashtra, 10 in Karnataka, 5 in Haryana, 4 each in Delhi, Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh, 3 each in Gujarat, Kerala and Telangana, 2 each in Andhra Pradesh, Ladakh and Odisha, and 1 each in Jharkhand, Punjab, Uttarakhand and West Bengal.

Police said the funds were siphoned off using various methods, including so-called “digital arrest” scams, investment fraud, UPI-related fraud, trading scams and part-time job fraud schemes.

During the operation, officers seized three mobile phones and ₹5 lakh in cash.

The investigation is ongoing, and officials indicated that further arrests are likely as the probe widens.