Navi Mumbai | November 6, 2025 — The Navi Mumbai Crime Branch has uncovered a massive cyber fraud network operating across India through the banned online gaming app Reddy Anna. The operation led to the arrest of 12 individuals connected to 393 cybercrime cases, involving a total fraud amount of nearly ₹84 crore.
How It All Began
The investigation was triggered on October 14 when Head Constable Rahul Pawar from the Economic Offences Wing detained Imran Usmani Minhaj Shaikh (22) near CBD Belapur railway station for suspicious activity.
Upon interrogation, Shaikh revealed he had opened 60 to 70 fake bank accounts used by cybercriminals to launder money through the Reddy Anna platform. He lured local youths by offering commission-based income, paying them ₹5,000 per account while he received ₹15,000 from the fraud operators.
Shaikh then sent the account kits — including passbooks, debit cards, chequebooks, and SIM cards — via a courier service to a person named Harish in Dombivli.
Raids in Dombivli and Pune
Based on Shaikh’s disclosures, police raided a flat in Runwal Garden, Dombivli, uncovering an active online gaming and cyber fraud setup. Five suspects were arrested on the spot.
A subsequent raid at Somani Green Homes, Punawale, Pimpri-Chinchwad (Pune) led to the arrest of six more individuals, effectively dismantling the syndicate’s core operations.
Those arrested from Dombivli were Hitesh Punararam Dewangan (28), Sunil Shravan Dewangan (23), Rahul Raju Dewangan (21), Tomeshkumar Mohit Uike (22), Ankit Ramesh Singh (23), and Abhishek Sanjay Singh (23).
The Pune arrests included Arpit Sonwani, Rajat Sharma, and Harishkumar Markam from Chhattisgarh; Lalbabu Kumar from Bihar; and Krishnanshu Vishwas from Delhi.
The Modus Operandi
According to Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime Branch) Sachin Gunjal, a forensic analysis of the seized devices revealed that the accused operated through several domains — including Ramesh247.com, upi9.pro.com, and Reddybook.blue — in addition to the banned Reddy Anna app.
The syndicate used 886 bank accounts across India to conduct illegal gaming, betting, fake job offers, share trading scams, and “work-from-home” frauds.
They internally referred to their hubs as “branches” — the Dombivli unit was called “Branch 508” and the Pune hub “Branch 404.”
Seizures and Legal Action
The raids resulted in the seizure of 52 mobile phones, 7 laptops, 99 debit cards, 64 bank passbooks, and a Tata Safari Storm SUV, collectively valued at ₹18.05 lakh.
A case has been registered under Sections 318(4) and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), Sections 66C and 66D of the Information Technology Act, as well as relevant provisions of the Maharashtra Gambling Act and the Online Gaming (Promotion and Regulation) Act, 2025.
The operation was conducted under the supervision of ACP Ajaykumar Landge and Senior Police Inspector Sunil Shinde, assisted by a central team comprising Srinivas Tungenwar, Sachin Kokare, Satish Bhosale, Mahesh Jadhav, and Rahul Bhadane.
Expert Insight: “Cybercrime Has Become a Structured Financial Ecosystem” — Prof. Triveni Singh
Commenting on the case, Prof. Triveni Singh, noted cybercrime expert and former IPS officer, emphasized that such cases highlight how digital fraud has evolved into a highly organized economic network.
“This is not just about illegal gaming or betting — it’s a reflection of how cybercrime has transformed into a structured financial ecosystem. Platforms like Reddy Anna are merely the visible front; behind them lies a complex web of fake accounts, digital wallets, and proxy servers. Unless the financial backbone of such networks is dismantled, they will continue to reinvent themselves in new forms.”
Prof. Singh further noted that with India’s rapid expansion of digital payment systems, there is an urgent need to strengthen digital literacy, transaction transparency, and public cyber awareness at the grassroots level.
Analysis: A Glimpse Into India’s Digital Underworld
The Reddy Anna case offers a stark reminder of how deeply cyber fraud networks have penetrated India’s digital ecosystem. What once began as isolated online scams has now evolved into a nationwide economic threat, blending technology, psychology, and organized crime.
Experts warn that combating such frauds will require not only strong policing but also inter-agency coordination, financial intelligence tracking, and nationwide awareness programs to make citizens less vulnerable to sophisticated online traps.
