New Delhi, Sep 4: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has launched a nationwide crackdown on organised syndicates involved in digital arrest crimes, conducting coordinated searches at 89 locations across 20 states under Operation Chakra-VI, the national probe agency said on Friday.

During the operation, the CBI arrested three persons in Haryana and Kolkata for their alleged roles in receiving, layering and dispersing the fraud proceeds, it said.

The CBI has taken over several digital arrest-related cases registered in different states. In three such cases, investigators carried out extensive searches based on detailed financial and technical analysis.

The probe involved scrutiny of bank accounts, online account access data and other digital trails to identify the movement of fraud proceeds and trace the handlers and beneficiaries of the syndicates.

“One of the cases relates to BITS Pilani, where the victim was allegedly kept under digital arrest for three months and defrauded of Rs 7.67 crore by scammers posing as police officers. In another case in Gujarat, a victim was digitally detained for three months by individuals impersonating police officers and allegedly defrauded of Rs 19.24 crore. The third case, registered in Karnataka, involves a victim who was kept under digital arrest for a month and allegedly cheated of Rs 15.45 crore,” the CBI said.

The searches resulted in the seizure of banking documents, account-related records, digital devices and other material considered crucial to the investigation.

“The seized evidence is being subjected to forensic examination to establish the broader financial and technological infrastructure used by the syndicates to operate across state boundaries,” said the agency.

The CBI also arrested three accused during the operation. Their examination allegedly revealed their roles in receiving, layering and dispersing the proceeds of the fraud.

According to the agency, Akash, a resident of Haryana, received Rs 1.95 crore of the defrauded money in his bank account.

Investigators found that he had opened the account himself and transferred the funds to other accounts on the same day, indicating his alleged direct involvement in laundering the proceeds.

Raja Karmakar of Kolkata allegedly received Rs 1.5 crore of the fraud proceeds in his firm’s account. Jyoti Rani, whose account received part of the defrauded amount, allegedly withdrew some of the money in cash and transferred the remainder to other accounts to conceal its trail, the agency said.

The action comes amid growing concern over the spread of digital arrest fraud, in which cyber criminals impersonate police officers, government officials and other law-enforcement personnel to intimidate victims and force them into transferring large sums of money.

The Supreme Court has also directed the CBI to take concerted action against perpetrators and the wider networks facilitating such crimes.

The CBI said efforts are continuing to identify and apprehend other members of the wider network. Further investigation is underway, with the agency maintaining that it will pursue those involved in digital arrest crimes and organised cybercrime in accordance with the Supreme Court’s directions.

Mumbai: On September 2, around 8 am, Police Constable Nilesh Salunke received information from his informant that many rickshaw and taxi drivers in Dahisar area were using a device in their meters to artificially increase the fares and were robbing passengers. The information was passed on to the seniors who confirmed the matter and ordered further action.

To verify this, on September 1, a fake passenger was sent for a journey in taxi number MH 01 CJ 6487. The taxi driver concerned had covered his fare meter. And due to his suspicious activities, the taxi driver was detained along with the taxi and after writing to the Regional Transport Department, Borivali Kandivali, Dahisar East Mumbai, the said taxi was examined by them and it was found that the electronic running circuit device in the taxi fare meter was illegally tampered with by connecting wires and through this, the common passengers were cheated by increasing the artificial fare. In this regard, when further investigation was done, it was installed in taxi number MH 01 CJ 6487 by Islam Nama Amin Ramzan Pathan, age 31 years, profession – Rickshaw Driver / Electrician. When he was taken into confidence and questioned, it was found that the electronic running circuit device in the fare meter in 04 more taxis / rickshaws was illegally tampered with by connecting wires. In this regard, a case has been registered at Dahisar Police Station under Section 1293/26, Section 318 (4) of the Indian Penal Code – 2023 and Sections 33, 35 and Section 145 (a) of the MV Act. Here near Gokul Anand Hotel, Ashok One, Dahisar East, Mumbai Taxi/Rickshaw seized for tampering with fare meter Maruti Suzuki Company black yellow taxi number MH01CJ6487 Bajaj Company black yellow rickshaw number MH02DU0777 Bajaj Company black yellow rickshaw number MH03BY4268 Maruti Suzuki Company black yellow taxi number MH02BQ7392, Maruti Artica Cool Cab MH-01-EM-604 Seized goods
(Used for tampering with fare meter) Electronic running circuit along with it of accused
1) Zaheb Altaf Deshmukh Age – 32 years
2) Amin Ramzan Pathan Age – 31 years
3) Riaz Abdul Ghani Sheikh Age – 45 years
4) Nazir Ibrahim Patel Age – 57 years
5) Anand Kumar Nanak Prasad Rai Age – 60 years Action taken against Along with this, the accused have been arrested and further investigation is underway.

Mumbai: Gateway of India Police safely rescued the sea boat and passengers. The sea ferry boat ‘Anwari’, which makes a half-hour sea trip from the Gateway of India, broke down in the sea at a distance of about 1.5 nautical miles, while returning to the Gateway at around 3:30 pm. A total of 38 people were on board the ship, including 34 passengers and 4 crew members. As soon as this information was received from the control room, Police Constable Abhijit Shinde and Police Naik Guru of Bat No. 01 immediately understood the seriousness of the situation and started inquiring about other boats in the vicinity. They came to know that the ferry boat ‘Azad Hind’ was near the stranded ship. After this, they contacted Junaid Mulla, the owner of ‘Azad Hind’, and arranged for ‘Azad Hind’ to be sent to the location of the disabled boat. ‘Azad Hind’ arrived immediately, towed ‘Anwari’ back and brought it safely to Jetty No. 2 at Gateway of India. All 34 passengers and 4 crew members on board are safe. The passengers and the boat were rescued due to the presence of mind and cooperation of the Mumbai Police constables, which is also being praised on social media. While the boat that was stuck in the sea was broken and unable to travel further, the police provided immediate assistance, due to which a major accident was averted.