Ahmedabad: A private cyber expert, Devendra Patel, who was assisting the local crime branch (LCB) in investigating a call center scam, has been arrested for allegedly diverting $48,300 (approximately Rs 41 lakh) in cryptocurrency into his personal account during a police raid. Patel was arrested and produced in court on Wednesday, where he was remanded to police custody for eight days, confirmed Inspector D B Unadkat. Initially, Patel attempted to mislead investigators, but when confronted with irrefutable evidence, he confessed to the crime.
How the Fraud Unfolded
The case began when the Zone 6 LCB team, led by PSI M R Brahmbhatt, raided a residence in Danilimda, suspected to be a hub for illegal call center activities. Patel was brought in to assist police in analyzing seized digital devices, including mobile phones and a laptop.
During the raid, Patel falsely claimed that no call center data was found on the seized devices. However, forensic experts later uncovered a suspicious cryptocurrency transaction, revealing that money had been illicitly transferred from a crypto wallet belonging to Ayaz Sheikh, the alleged operator of the call center.
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Sheikh Reports Missing Cryptocurrency
After the raid, Ayaz Sheikh informed the police that a significant amount of cryptocurrency had been transferred from his wallet to an unknown account during the raid. Given the suspicious timing of the transfer, police launched an investigation into the matter.
Patel’s Method and Motive
Investigators discovered that Patel, who holds a master’s degree in computer applications, had learned about Sheikh’s substantial crypto holdings during the raid. Patel then colluded with an accomplice and used his own mobile phone to transfer the cryptocurrency from Sheikh’s wallet to his own and later to a third-party account.
Upon interrogation, Patel admitted that he had invested Rs 30 lakh of the stolen funds in the stock market, loaned Rs 8 lakh to friends, and spent Rs 2 lakh for personal expenses.
Arrest and Investigation
Based on a tip-off, police tracked and arrested Patel near his residence. Upon seizing two mobile phones from him, investigators were able to confirm his involvement in the illicit cryptocurrency transactions. A case has been filed against Patel under charges of theft, fraud, and breach of trust under the Information Technology Act at the Maninagar police station. Authorities are now investigating whether Patel has committed similar crimes elsewhere and if he has additional accomplices. Inspector Unadkat emphasized that efforts are underway to identify all individuals involved in the cyber fraud and recover the stolen cryptocurrency.