In one of the biggest cybercrime crackdowns in recent years, the West District Cyber Team of Delhi Police has dismantled a large interstate cyber fraud network allegedly responsible for causing losses of nearly ₹40 crore across India. During a month-long operation, police arrested 35 hardcore cyber criminals and brought 54 others under legal scrutiny as part of a coordinated nationwide action.
According to investigators, the network was involved in multiple forms of organised cybercrime, including digital arrest scams, mule account operations, APK-based frauds, fake investment schemes, online dating frauds and cryptocurrency-linked money laundering. Simultaneous raids were conducted in Jharkhand, Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat and Delhi, leading to the exposure of several interconnected cybercrime modules.
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Police recovered ₹14.18 lakh in cash, 359 SIM cards, 218 ATM cards, 88 mobile phones, 78 cheque books, passbooks, credit cards, laptops and a large digital infrastructure allegedly used to operate cyber fraud activities. Authorities also managed to secure ₹1.11 crore through urgent banking coordination and lien marking, while ₹51.95 lakh was successfully returned to victims through court-directed financial reversals.
Cybercrime analysts described the operation as one of the most extensive interstate enforcement drives carried out by Delhi Police in recent years. Investigators relied on technical surveillance, digital intelligence gathering, financial trail analysis and coordinated interstate raids to trace the network’s operations and financial movements.
One of the biggest breakthroughs came from Karampura in Delhi, where police busted a high-tech mule account and OTP routing syndicate. According to officials, several accused attempted to escape by jumping from the fourth floor when police teams arrived at the location, but all were apprehended after a swift operation. The arrested accused include Bittoo Chaudhary, Lavish Chugh, Rishi, Arun Singh, Ashish and Deepak Bhatt.
Investigators found that the accused were allegedly operating a centralised OTP-sharing system through a WhatsApp group named “DL Office”. The system was reportedly used to illegally manage mule bank accounts involved in routing fraud money. Police seized 43 smartphones, 313 SIM cards, 184 ATM cards, 51 cheque books and laptops from the premises. Technical analysis through the NCRP-linked systems reportedly connected the accounts to 35 cyber fraud complaints involving nearly ₹40 crore.
In another operation, police dismantled a gang allegedly involved in fake friendship offers, Telegram bot scams and VIP membership fraud schemes. Investigators said the accused used fake social media identities and digital platforms to emotionally manipulate victims before diverting stolen funds through mule accounts and converting the money into USDT cryptocurrency.
Digital trails linked to African IP addresses also emerged during the investigation, raising suspicions of possible international connections. Authorities traced interstate cash withdrawals in Bengaluru and identified cryptocurrency conversion routes connected to the network. Mobile phones containing Telegram and WhatsApp chats were also recovered during the raids.
Police also solved a dangerous “digital arrest” fraud case in which cyber criminals allegedly psychologically intimidated a senior citizen by falsely accusing him of involvement in a fake money laundering investigation. Raids conducted in Punjab and Jharkhand led to multiple arrests linked to the operation. Investigators said the accused were allegedly involved in operating mule accounts and converting fraudulent funds into cryptocurrency through layered transactions.
Renowned cybercrime expert and former IPS officer Prof. Triveni Singh said organised cyber gangs are increasingly using social engineering, mule account ecosystems and cryptocurrency channels to complicate investigations and evade detection. He warned that citizens must remain cautious of unknown calls, fake legal notices, investment offers and so-called “digital arrest” threats circulated through online platforms.
Police are currently continuing the financial and digital investigation into the wider network. Officials believe more arrests and major revelations are likely as transaction records, digital devices and interstate links are further analysed.
