The Punjab State Cyber Crime Division has arrested Gaurav Kumar, the mastermind behind a fake website impersonating the official portal of the Punjab Government’s Mining Department. The accused allegedly issued fraudulent mining permits, facilitating illegal mining activities and causing financial losses of Rs 40-50 lakh to the state exchequer.
Investigations revealed that Kumar, in collusion with a mining businessman, cloned the official website to generate and distribute over 2,000 fake permits. These fraudulent documents, embedded with QR codes and barcodes, were designed to bypass security checks, allowing unauthorized movement of mining vehicles. The accused’s modus operandi involved spoofing the government website, fabricating mining permits, and creating counterfeit receipts to make the transactions appear legitimate. This illegal operation not only facilitated unauthorized mining but also deprived the government of substantial revenue.
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A First Information Report (FIR) has been registered, and authorities are conducting further investigations to expose the full extent of the fraud network. During the raid, police recovered crucial digital evidence, including a backup of the fake website, a database of fake receipts, images of vehicles used in illegal mining, details of mining material sources and destinations, and the computer systems involved in the crime.
The Punjab Police, through its cyber crime unit, has reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding digital platforms and cracking down on cyber fraud. The Cyber Crime Punjab team remains vigilant, working round the clock to prevent online scams and financial crimes. Further arrests and action against other individuals involved in the fraudulent scheme are expected as the investigation progresses.
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