A cyber fraud involving ₹1.10 lakh has been reported from Bhavnagar after a police head constable posted at the city’s police headquarters discovered unauthorised withdrawals from his bank account following the deactivation and subsequent reactivation of his mobile SIM card. A formal complaint has been registered at the local police station, and an investigation has been initiated to trace the digital transaction trail.
According to the complaint, the incident came to light after the complainant’s mobile SIM card suddenly stopped functioning. Assuming it to be a technical issue, the officer approached a customer service centre of Reliance Jio to restore connectivity. A replacement SIM card bearing the same mobile number was issued, but the number reportedly did not become active immediately.
The following day, the mobile number was linked with the Aadhaar database through official channels to complete the reactivation process. After Aadhaar–mobile linkage was completed at a designated civic facility, mobile services were restored. It was only after the handset became operational that the complainant accessed his bank account and noticed suspicious activity.
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On logging into the mobile banking application of Axis Bank, the officer found that an unknown UPI ID had been linked to his account without his consent. A review of transaction records revealed that ₹1,10,705 had been withdrawn through multiple digital transfers. Officials noted that the transactions were executed without any one-time password (OTP) alerts or explicit authorisation from the account holder, raising strong suspicion of a coordinated cyber fraud.
Preliminary findings suggest that the siphoned amount was routed through multiple bank accounts, complicating immediate recovery efforts. Upon detecting the fraud, the complainant contacted the cyber crime helpline and subsequently lodged a formal police complaint. Law enforcement agencies confirmed that banking transaction logs, UPI linkage data and telecom records are being examined to identify the point of compromise.
Investigators have also found indications of an inter-state link in the case. Early leads suggest that at least one suspect may be operating from Bihar. Coordination has been initiated with cyber cells and banking authorities in other states to identify beneficiary accounts and freeze them where possible. Requests for account blocking and transaction reversal have been forwarded to the concerned banks.
Police are examining whether the fraud involved SIM swap or SIM cloning techniques—methods increasingly used by cyber criminals to gain control over a victim’s mobile number and bypass banking alerts and authentication mechanisms. Officials said the unauthorised linking of a UPI ID soon after SIM reactivation is a critical aspect of the investigation.
Cyber security experts point out that SIM replacement and Aadhaar re-linking stages can expose users to heightened risk if additional safeguards are not in place. They advise citizens to immediately alert their banks and telecom service providers if a SIM card stops working unexpectedly and to closely monitor bank accounts during any change in mobile connectivity.
Police officials said the case has been registered under relevant provisions of the Information Technology Act and sections of the Indian Penal Code pertaining to cheating and unauthorised electronic transactions. Further action will depend on the outcome of digital forensic analysis and cooperation from telecom and banking institutions.
The incident adds to the growing number of cyber fraud cases being reported across Gujarat and other parts of the country, underlining the need for increased public awareness and stronger digital security practices. Authorities have reiterated that users should avoid sharing personal information, complete SIM replacements only through authorised service centres, and activate transaction alerts and limits on banking applications.
Investigations are ongoing, and officials said additional details will be shared as the probe progresses.
About the author – Rehan Khan is a law student and legal journalist with a keen interest in cybercrime, digital fraud, and emerging technology laws. He writes on the intersection of law, cybersecurity, and online safety, focusing on developments that impact individuals and institutions in India.
