New Delhi, Oct 13: Eleven cyber criminals were arrested and a potential loss of Rs 7.25 crore through digital arrests, prevented by the Delhi Police, who busted an international syndicate linked to gangs in Cambodia and other South-East Asian countries, an official said on Tuesday

The arrests by the Intelligence Fusion and Strategic Operations (IFSO) unit of the Delhi Police led to the working out of cybercrime cases spread across different states, including Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal, and resulted in a freeze/hold on Rs1.96 crore in HDFC and SBI accounts related to fraud cases, the police said.

Deputy Commissioner of Police, IFSO Unit, Gaurav Tyagi said in one case probe began on the complaint of Pradeep Kumar Das, 69, retired Scientist “F”, Director, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, regarding a “digital arrest” fraud of Rs 1.25 crore, the police said.

During the investigation, the police identified a hotel and a flat in Sector-7, Dwarka, along with the mobile number 8617839064, which was registered/linked with the HDFC Bank account of the MR Traders and used for facilitating cybercrime, said a statement.

The main handler was identified as Anish Khan, a resident of Etah, UP, who was in contact with foreign-based handlers through Telegram and involved in operating/managing the bank account allegedly used for cybercrime-related transactions.

As per the investigation, he was allegedly working on a 5.5 per cent commission basis. The commission was allegedly received in USDT (Tether/cryptocurrency) and subsequently converted into Indian Rupees through different cryptocurrency exchanges/platforms, the police said.

Other accused were identified as Mahfuzar Rahman and Izhar Alam, both from West Bengal; Altaf Hussain, a resident of J&K; and Intekhab, a resident of Muzaffarnagar, UP, the police said.

The mastermind of another related case was identified as 31-year-old Anil Sagu alias Krishna, a resident of village Dabri, District Hanumangarh, Rajasthan. He was arrested in connection with a case registered by the Special Cell.

The DCP said that Sagu collected commission in USDT (Tether/cryptocurrency) and distribute it among his associates.

He was the main handler who remained in touch with foreign associates through Telegram, the police said.

Other arrested accused were identified as Neeraj Kumar Mittal, an account holder from Meerut; Kanwar Pal, introducer for the bank account in Meerut; Saif Ali Khan, resident of Gajraula, UP; Ranbir, resident of Rampur, District Shimla; Prabhat Rai alias Ashutosh, resident of Mangolpuri, Delhi.

During the investigation, the police recovered the cheque book of the alleged bank account No. 50200099629024, maintained with HDFC Bank, of MR Traders.

Six Mobile phones, which contain the WhatsApp chat, Telegram chat, and the crypto currency transaction history and other incriminating evidence relevant, with the case, were also seized.

As many as seven Telagram channels have been identified through which the sale and purchase of mule bank accounts was being undertaken by the accused, said the police.

An analysis of Telegram and WhatsApp chats revealed the sharing of bank credentials, linking the accused to 78 National Cybercrime Reporting Portal (NCRP) complaints across different States, with further investigation ongoing. The total amount involved in these 78 NCRP complaints was Rs 73 crore, said the statement.

The ‘INDIA’ alliance organized a march to the Supreme Court in Delhi, attended by Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi, and Members of Parliament from the alliance. Following this protest, it appears that the ‘INDIA’ alliance has adopted an aggressive stance. Commenting on the protest, Eknath Shinde remarked that yesterday was a ‘black day’ in the country’s history. He observed that the Constitution and the constitutional institutions established by Babasaheb were trampled upon. An unprecedented event occurred where a march to the Supreme Court was undertaken to exert pressure. Condemning the actions of Rahul Gandhi and the ‘INDIA’ alliance, he stated that no amount of condemnation would be enough. While acknowledging their right to protest in a democracy, he questioned the method of leading a march merely to file a petition. He emphasized that they should apologize for attacking India’s judicial system. Claiming that they are actively working to destroy the Constitution and strangle democracy, he added that the current situation poses a danger to the country. He expressed suspicion regarding the involvement of foreign forces, suggesting it could be part of an international conspiracy. Eknath Shinde said, “It is extremely unfortunate that they are pushing the country towards chaos; this is dangerous for the nation.” He added that since they cannot win elections or defeat the Prime Minister, they are resorting to such tactics. Shinde also leveled serious allegations, stating that the opposition is undermining the country’s freedom. Attempts are being made by foreign powers to destabilize the country. He emphasized the need to consistently speak out against their anti-national mindset. They operate under the conviction that they will not come to power at the Centre; this very thought drives their daily actions. It was the opposition itself that once attempted to destroy the Constitution. Referring to the Emergency, Shinde asked: if an Emergency were in place today, would protests even reach the Supreme Court? Nowadays, everyone is free to express their views. Is the current situation an Emergency, or was that the Emergency? Back then, everything was shut down. Is it right to march towards the judiciary and insult it? They talk about ‘breaking India’ and protest while threatening to leave the country. They know their demands are flawed; they are aware they will not get justice because their demands are baseless. They had protested against the increase in voter turnout. Now, if names are removed from the voter list, they protest—even though ‘Form 6’ exists to ensure no injustice occurs. It was merely a drama staged by ‘immature’ (shortsighted) people, all for the sake of gaining power. This is an insult to Lord Shiva; they lack wisdom. If the ‘third eye’ were to open, the ‘INDIA’ alliance would be wiped out. When people gather, they simply step out of their homes; they do not have to travel far—they find a ready-made platform and join in. They simply want to speak out against Modi. They claim that Modi has rendered them unemployed, so what other option do they have but to protest?

Mumbai, Oct 13: Highlighting Maharashtra’s competitive edge, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday affirmed that the state stands at the forefront of creating a robust ecosystem for industrial investment across sectors.

Speaking at the launch of the Maharashtra-UK Partnership program, the Chief Minister urged UK-based institutions and business leaders to actively invest in the state.

CM Fadnavis stated that Maharashtra offers a well-established framework integrating skilled manpower, capital, and technology.

To facilitate swift execution for investors, he assured that all state agencies concerned would seamlessly coordinate through the ‘Invest Maharashtra’ single-window platform.

He emphasised that the visit of the high-level UK delegation—comprising Secretaries of State, Mayors, and senior officials—was not merely a ceremonial visit, but a concrete initiative to transform shared ambitions into active businesses and formal agreements.

Following bilateral talks between the state leadership and the UK delegation, formal Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) were exchanged to expand cooperation across critical growth sectors.

CM Fadnavis pointed out that Mumbai bridges international finance, trade, and entrepreneurship directly with global markets. Concurrently, Pune has developed into a major hub for engineering, automotive manufacturing, and Information Technology (IT).

Under the New Education Policy (NEP), international institutions are now permitted to establish campuses in Maharashtra. Institutions such as the University of Bristol, University of York, and University of Aberdeen are setting up physical footprints in the state. Key upcoming projects like EduCity, MediCity, and AI Innovation City will bring together world-class research and global talent pool under one framework, said the CM.

According to the CM, the state offers immense potential for clean energy and sustainability initiatives, including industrial decarbonisation, energy efficiency, water resource management, intelligent transit systems, and resource recycling. The state government pledged complete support for global firms establishing Global Capability Centres (GCCs) and R&D facilities.

The strategic tie-up will unlock export potential for local manufacturers, food processing industries, technology startups, and small-scale entrepreneurs across Maharashtra, allowing them access to new markets and consumer bases in the United Kingdom, he stated.

Speaking at the occasion, UK Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds highlighted that Maharashtra is the most natural entry point for UK businesses expanding into India.

“Maharashtra was chosen for its distinct economic strength, political stability, and strong leadership. The economy of Maharashtra alone exceeds that of Norway in Europe. We have not come here merely to sign a piece of paper; we seek tangible results and success. We look forward to working together to accelerate growth for both nations,” Reynolds remarked.

The UK delegation also included Dame Angela Eagle (Secretary for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Scotland), Douglas Alexander (Minister of State), Sophie Bryce (Director of EU and International Trade), Harshbir Sangha (UK Deputy Trade Commissioner for South Asia), Harjinder Kang (UK Trade Commissioner for South Asia and Deputy High Commissioner for Western India), alongside visiting British Mayors and officials.