A 33-year-old Indian woman living in the United States was duped of USD 94,000 (around Rs84 lakh) by cybercriminals posing as police officers. The scammers, believed to be operating from India, kept her under “digital arrest” and coerced her into transferring money through cryptocurrency.

The victim, a software developer from Borivali (West), currently working in New Jersey, received a call last week claiming that a gun had been purchased using her credit card. She initially ignored it as a scam, but the next day, she received another call from an Indian number. The caller, introducing himself as an officer from the Delhi Cyber Crime Department, accused her of involvement in a Rs25.8 lakh money-laundering case linked to businessman Naresh Goyal and threatened arrest.

The fraudster made a video call showing what appeared to be a police station background. He convinced the woman to remain under constant video surveillance, calling it a “digital arrest.” He then instructed her to buy a new phone and SIM card, share her bank details, and open a Bitcoin account, assuring her the money would be returned once the case was “resolved.”

Over a few days, she transferred USD 94,000 in four cryptocurrency transactions to what she was told was a “special account.” She later realised she had been scammed.

When she approached the cyber police in New Jersey, they refused to register a case, citing that the funds were transferred to Indian accounts.

The Nirmal Nagar police have booked four individuals, including three women, for allegedly assaulting police constable Sameer Bhingardive and threatening to file a false case against him. Bhingardive, 40, is assigned to the Cyber Crime Cell and is responsible for tracing cybercrime suspects and recovering stolen or missing mobile phones. He resides at the Worli Police Camp.

According to the FIR, the incident occurred on October 25 at around 6.30 pm. Bhingardive had traced a missing mobile phone and contacted its owner, autorickshaw driver Virendrakumar Saroj, instructing him to submit it at the police station.

While waiting at a tea stall on the Western Express Highway service road, Bhingardive intervened in an argument between Saroj and a woman over parking. Despite identifying himself as a policeman, Bhingardive was assaulted when two women and a man arrived at the spot. The assailants struck him on the face, head, and neck, with the man reportedly using his bracelet.

During the altercation, one woman broke Saroj’s driver’s licence, and another threatened to file a false case against the constable, demanding a public apology. The commotion drew a crowd, prompting immediate police action.

Constables Swapnil Tambe and Datish Tige arrived at the scene, rescued Bhingardive, and took the four accused to Nirmal Nagar police station. Bhingardive later received treatment at VN Desai Hospital, Santacruz (East).

The accused are identified as Kavita Patil, 38; Pooja Gaikwad, 32; Geeta Gorvale, 32; and Kalpesh Gaikwad, around 35, all residents of Khar East.

The police have registered a case under Sections 121(1) (voluntarily causing hurt or grievous hurt to deter a public servant from duty), 132 (assault or criminal force to deter a public servant from duty), and 3(5) (general explanation) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (BNS).

The term “Khabari” means informer, an indispensable part of every police force. While technology has transformed policing in today’s digital age, the importance of khabaris remains as strong as ever.

Some may question whether informers still hold the same relevance when advanced surveillance systems, digital forensics, and artificial intelligence are helping the police solve crimes faster. However, despite these technological breakthroughs, the role of human intelligence can never be replaced.

A khabari serves as the police’s eyes and ears on the ground. They provide crucial information about criminal activities, gangs, and suspicious movements, insights that no digital system can fully capture. Their tips often lead to major breakthroughs in investigations, especially in complex or sensitive cases where trust and human connections matter more than data. The khabaris as the backbone of crime control and investigation. From tracking drug networks to preventing gang wars, these informers quietly contribute to maintaining law and order.

There is a common phrase often seen in police press notes, “acting on a tip-off from a secret informer.” These “secret informers” are none other than khabaris. Within the Mumbai Police, there exists an entire world of informers, mysterious yet essential. The general public often forms its image of an informer from Bollywood films — a shady figure calling the police from a dark alley. In reality, the truth is far more complex and grounded.

Many khabaris come from ordinary walks of life, street vendors, rickshaw pullers, small businessmen, or paan stall owners. They share information about suspicious or criminal activity in their areas. They may not receive direct financial benefits, but being known to the police gives them credibility and a sense of security. Sometimes, it ensures that the police do not unnecessarily trouble their businesses. Some people even share information as a form of social service, though they are not considered professional informers.

However, those who provide information from within the criminal world are the true police informers. These individuals may have once been part of gangs, may have fallen out with their former associates, or may be ex-convicts trying to rebuild their lives. Some are even active criminals who maintain links with the police. In prisons, so-called ‘raw prisoners’ also serve as informants, passing on valuable details about criminal networks or planned activities. Sometimes, in certain matters, the informer is connected to politicians, businessmen, and the criminal world as well.

The identity of an informer is always kept strictly confidential for their safety. The police never reveal their names, even in successful operations or encounter reports.

Sudhakar Suradkar, a former IPS officer, stated, “Technology or machines can never replace human intelligence. In the digital era, these tools are only helpful, but ultimately, human intelligence remains the most important. For instance, the atomic tests conducted by India in 1998, during the tenure of Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, were not detected by American intelligence agencies despite their advanced technology. Another key point is that an informer must be a credible individual. Some people accept money and provide information, but the police must identify their vested interests. Human beings can lie, which is why I never trusted petty informers; I always relied on credible ones. In the police force, the importance of informers will always remain, despite the growth of digital innovations.”

The history of informers in the Mumbai Police goes back decades. Smuggling was rampant in the 1960s, and rival operators would secretly tip off the police to catch competitors’ boats. That marked the beginning of the informer system. Over the years, informants have become an integral part of policing. During the 1980s and 1990s, when gang wars gripped Mumbai, khabaris played a crucial role. Their tips helped the police conduct encounters and dismantle underworld networks. Many of these informers risked their lives to assist the police during those violent times.

If informers provide information, what do they get in return? The answer lies in the economics of intelligence. Many informers are professionals; they earn their living by supplying credible information. The bigger and more valuable the information, the greater the reward. Some informers are even said to be on the police’s ‘payroll.’

In addition to monetary rewards, police departments often extend quiet support to informers and their families. If an informer is imprisoned or injured, officers may help their family financially. Such payments are made through a ‘secret fund’, an officially sanctioned fund used specifically to compensate informers for their services.

While technology has made policing faster and more scientific, the khabari continues to bridge the gap between street-level reality and official intelligence. Behind every major breakthrough lies a whisper from an unseen source, a khabari who risks everything to keep the city safe.

Street / Criminal Circle → Khabari → Police Officer → Action / Raid / Arrest

Former gang members
Street vendors / small business owners
Ex-convicts or prison contacts
Active criminals turned informants
Others (auto drivers, bar employees, etc.)

Police maintain a “secret fund” to pay informers.
The amount depends on the value of the information.
Payments are kept confidential to protect identities.

1960s: Start of informer culture during smuggling era
1980s–1990s: Rise of gang wars — informers vital in encounters
2000s: Informers track drug trade and organised crime
2020s: Digital policing + human intelligence = stronger results