Crime
Navi Mumbai News: Raigad Police Bust Digital Arrest Racket Spanning 6 Countries, 11 Arrested
Navi Mumbai: Investigations into a complaint of a ‘digital arrest’ scam in Raigad has now been found to be linked with an international cybercrime syndicate operating across India, Nepal, Pakistan, Canada, China, and Bangladesh. Acting on a complaint filed in May, the Raigad Cyber Police have arrested 11 individuals, including tech-savvy masterminds, telecom insiders, and marketing agents.
The investigation started after a local citizen reported receiving a threatening video call on May 5 from someone posing as an official from the Telecom Authority of India. The victim was told that his identity had been misused for illegal transactions and that a Supreme Court arrest warrant was issued against him. To ‘settle’ the matter, he was forced to transfer Rs 66 lakh in multiple installments. The fraud was cleverly masked as a ‘digital arrest’.
“What appeared to be a standalone scam quickly revealed deeper layers. The Raigad Cyber police station found that the scam was just the tip of a pan-India and cross-border telecom exploitation operation run using forged company documents, SIP lines, and cloud-based calling servers,” Raigad Superintendent of Police Anchal Dalal said.
Abhay Santprakash Mishra, (29), a B.Tech Computer Science graduate from Hardoi, Uttar Pradesh was found to be the mastermind. Mishra managed a network of five high-capacity telecom servers that placed over 62 lakh spoofed calls in 28 days, including 86,910 targeting Maharashtra alone.
Mishra was found to be in constant digital communication with foreign nationals from Pakistan, Canada, Nepal, Bangladesh, and China, discussing the setup of SIP (Session Initiation Protocol) lines, a telecom technology that allows voice and video communication over the internet — often without requiring user-level identification.
Using the alias ‘Alex,’ Mishra conducted encrypted conversations via Microsoft Teams, discussing fraud operations, lease line acquisitions, and telecom routing with international collaborators. “He was also preparing forged documentation to obtain permanent residency in Nepal,” Dalal said. Authorities have also identified properties linked to him in Nepal, Noida, and Hardoi, along with Rs 85 lakh in Bitcoin, as proceeds of crime.
Police found that the gang had created fake companies such as Nivi Cloud Pvt Ltd, Credil Info Pvt Ltd, Oxydeal, and others. These companies existed only on paper — supported by fraudulent documents, forged rubber stamps, and complicit telecom sales executives.
Two Jio Sales Managers, Balmori Vinaykumar Rao and Gangadhar Gangaram Muttan, played a crucial role by accepting these fake documents via WhatsApp, signing off as company directors, and approving telecom SIP lines. These telecom lines were then used to make fake calls in the guise of CBI, ED, police, and other agencies.
Police also arrested Mohsin Mia Khan (35) from Delhi, who possessed over 6,175 SIM cards from providers like Jio, Airtel, BSNL, VI, Idea, and 13 foreign numbers — along with 26 mobile handsets. These SIM cards were being used to rotate identities, mask call origins, and bypass traceability.
The network involved a team of document forgers identified as Abdus Salam Barbhuyan, Nadeem Ahmed, Lairab Khan, Shadan Khan, and Mohammad Faisal Khan, all of whom played roles in setting up fake firms and laundering funds. Fake bank accounts, dummy directors, and proxy communications were used to route money, with over 112 bank accounts identified and Rs 66 lakh frozen so far.
Shams Tahir Khan, an MBA graduate from Rajasthan, acted as the SIP marketing conduit, onboarding international players and travelling with Mishra to Nepal, which is emerging as a safe haven for such cyber operators due to weak extradition oversight, said police.
Authorities have invoked multiple charges under IPC Sections 420, 467, 468, 471, 120-B, the Telegraph Act, and the IT Act. Assets across multiple states and countries are now under seizure proceedings.
Raigad SP Aanchal Dalal, who led the investigation, warned that ‘digital arrest’ is a fake concept. “Neither the CBI, ED, nor the Police call citizens through WhatsApp or ask for money to avoid legal action. Citizens are urged to immediately report such incidents to the Cyber Helpline 1930, 1945, or 14407, or visit the nearest police station,” she added.
Further investigations into the crime is being conducted by SP Dalal and Additional Superintendent of Police, Abhijit Shivthare, Inspector Rizwana Nadaf, Assistant Police Inspector Amol Jadhav, ASI Mohite, PN Tushar Gharat, PN Rahul Patil, PN Rajiv Zinjurte, PC Gurav, LHC Suchita Patil and LHC Puja Patil.
Crime
Odisha: Drug-addicted son kills father after argument over de-addiction medication

Bhubaneswar, July 28: Within 24 hours of the gruesome murder of a woman allegedly by her husband in the Chakeisiani area under Mancheswar police station limits, another brutal killing occurred in the same police station area of Odisha’s Bhubaneswar on Tuesday, with a 50-year-old man allegedly beaten to death by his drug-addicted son.
Police identified the victim as S. Duryadhan (50), while the accused, S. Debaraj (25), is his only son.
The deceased Duryadhan worked as a labour contractor.
Upon being informed, the police along with the scientific team immediately reached the crime spot and launched an investigation into the case.
Speaking to reporters, Biswaranjan Senapati, Assistant Commissioner of Police (Zone V), said, “Preliminary investigation suggests that Debaraj killed his father following a dispute over his drug use.”
He also added that accused son was a habitual brown sugar addict and had earlier been admitted to a de-addiction centre by his father.
“Following medical advice, Duryodhan used to mix the prescribed de-addiction medicine into a bidi and ask his son to smoke it whenever he would ask for any normal cigarette or bidi. However, Debaraj disliked the arrangement and frequently engaged in heated arguments with his father over the issue,” Senapati said.
The ACP said a heated argument over the issue erupted on Monday night, forcing the accused’s mother and other family members to leave the house out of fear.
According to Senapati, only the father and son were at home on Tuesday morning when they again got into an argument after the victim offered his son a bidi containing the prescribed medicine, while the latter demanded a regular bidi.
Meanwhile, the accused suddenly went into a fury after Duryadhan insisted and attacked the victim with an iron pipe. He later bludgeoned his father with a stone.
“The family members also told us that the accused has a brain tumour and often gets furious all of a sudden. He has been detained at the police station and will be produced before the court later,” Senapati added.
Crime
EOU conducts simultaneous raids in Jamui in Benami assets probe linked to Zila Parishad chairperson

Patna, July 28: The Bihar Economic Offences Unit (EOU) on Tuesday carried out simultaneous raids at multiple locations in Jamui as part of an investigation into alleged benami (proxy-owned) assets linked to Zila Parishad Chairperson Dulari Devi and her husband Guddu Yadav.
The operation was still underway at the time of filing this report.
According to an official, the EOU launched coordinated searches at the residences of Dulari Devi, Guddu Yadav, and four to five of their close associates.
The raids have attracted significant attention across the district.
The search operation is being conducted at several locations, including Guddu Yadav’s in-laws’ residence in Damarkola village under the Khaira police station area, his residence at the district headquarters, and the official Zila Parishad residence.
Investigators are examining documents, financial records, property-related papers, and other materials relevant to the probe.
Preliminary information indicates that the raids are part of an investigation into allegations of benami assets.
However, the EOU has not yet issued an official statement detailing the basis of the searches or the scope of the investigation.
The operation was continuing when this report was filed, and it remains unclear whether any incriminating documents, cash, valuables, or other evidence have been recovered.
Officials are expected to release further details after the search operation is completed.
Earlier on June 11, the EOU had conducted another raid at the properties of Manish Kumar — an accountant working at the Hajipur Municipal Council office in Vaishali — for allegedly amassing assets disproportionate to his known sources of income.
Preliminary investigations have revealed evidence of assets worth approximately Rs 2.02 crore in excess of his income.
According to the EOU, a case (Case No. 10/26, dated June 10, 2026) was registered against Manish Kumar at the Economic Offences Unit police station following the verification of information received from reliable sources.
The case has been registered under Sections 13(2) and 13(1)(b) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (amended in 2018).
Crime
Delhi: Anti-narcotics squad busts illicit liquor stockpoint, arrests bootlegger with 16 cartons of Haryana-mark liquor

New Delhi, July 28: The Anti-Narcotics Squad of South District Police has achieved a major success by apprehending a bootlegger and seizing a large quantity of Haryana-mark illicit liquor from his possession and residence in Sangam Vihar. A total of 16 cartons of liquor, including country liquor, whisky, and beer meant for sale only in Haryana, were recovered during the operation.
Following the seizure, a case was registered under the Delhi Excise Act. FIR No. 293/2026, dated July 24, under Section 33 of the Delhi Excise Act, was lodged at Police Station Sangam Vihar.
The operation was carried out by a team comprising Head Constable Manish, Head Constable Jaldhari, Head Constable Mukesh, Head Constable Jaiveer, and Constable Lokesh under the leadership of Inspector Mahender Dahiya, In-Charge of the Anti-Narcotics Squad. The operation was conducted under the overall supervision of ACP/Operations, South District, Rituraj.
According to police, on July 24, the Anti-Narcotics Squad received specific Intelligence regarding the illegal storage and sale of Haryana-mark liquor in the Sangam Vihar area. Acting promptly on the information, the team laid a trap near F-2nd Block, Sangam Vihar, and apprehended the accused, identified as Ajay, while he was allegedly found in possession of illicit liquor outside his residence.
Subsequently, a search of the accused’s house led to the recovery of a substantial quantity of illegal liquor. The entire consignment was seized, and the accused was arrested after completing all necessary legal formalities. Further investigation is underway to ascertain the source of the liquor and identify others involved in the supply network.
During interrogation, it was revealed that the accused had allegedly stocked Haryana-mark liquor at his residence and was supplying it illegally in Delhi for financial gain while violating the provisions of the Delhi Excise Act.
The arrested accused has been identified as Ajay (42), son of Chhotu Lal, a resident of F-2nd Block, Sangam Vihar, New Delhi. Police records show that he was previously involved in a similar case registered under the Delhi Excise Act at Sangam Vihar Police Station.
The recovered liquor included 321 quarters (six cartons) of Masaledar Desi Sharab marked “For Sale in Haryana Only”, 227 quarters (five cartons) of whisky, 36 bottles (three cartons) of beer, and 47 beer cans (two cartons). In total, 16 cartons of Haryana-mark illicit liquor were seized during the operation.
Police officials said the Intelligence-based action has dealt a significant blow to the illegal liquor trade in the area. Efforts are continuing to trace the source of the contraband, dismantle the supply chain, and identify other individuals involved in the racket.
-
Crime4 years agoClass 10 student jumps to death in Jaipur
-
Maharashtra2 years agoMumbai Local Train Update: Central Railway’s New Timetable Comes Into Effect; Check Full List Of Revised Timings & Stations
-
Maharashtra2 years agoMumbai To Go Toll-Free Tonight! Maharashtra Govt Announces Complete Toll Waiver For Light Motor Vehicles At All 5 Entry Points Of City
-
Maharashtra2 years agoFalse photo of Imtiaz Jaleel’s rally, exposing the fooling conspiracy
-
National News2 years agoMinistry of Railways rolls out Special Drive 4.0 with focus on digitisation, cleanliness, inclusiveness and grievance redressal
-
Maharashtra2 years agoMaharashtra Elections 2024: Mumbai Metro & BEST Services Extended Till Midnight On Voting Day
-
National News2 years agoJ&K: 4 Jawans Killed, 28 Injured After Bus Carrying BSF Personnel For Poll Duty Falls Into Gorge In Budgam; Terrifying Visuals Surface
-
Crime2 years agoBaba Siddique Murder: Mumbai Police Unable To Get Lawrence Bishnoi Custody Due To Home Ministry Order, Says Report
