Cyber Crime
Cyber Expert Hired for Probe Caught Looting Rs 41 Lakh in Cryptocurrency During Raid
Ahmedabad: A cyber expert, called in to assist the Local Crime Branch (LCB) in a call centre fraud investigation, turned from investigator to perpetrator after secretly siphoning off Rs 41 lakh in cryptocurrency during a police raid. The accused, Devendra Patel, was arrested and produced in court on Wednesday, where he was remanded to eight days of police custody.
Inside the Digital Heist
Patel, a tech-savvy professional with a master’s degree in computer applications, was brought in to analyze digital evidence seized from a call centre operating out of a residence in Danilimda. Tasked with examining mobile phones and a laptop, he falsely declared that no incriminating data was found. However, forensic experts later uncovered that Patel had exploited the raid to transfer cryptocurrency from the suspect’s wallet into his own account.
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Crypto Vanishes, Tip-Off Leads to Arrest
The fraud came to light when Ayaz Sheikh, the alleged operator of the call centre, reported that his cryptocurrency had gone missing. Given that the transfer took place during the raid, suspicions arose, prompting an official complaint. A crucial tip-off led the police to Patel’s doorstep, where he was arrested near his residence. Forensic examination of two seized mobile phones confirmed his involvement in the illicit transaction.
Spending Spree & Web of Deceit
During interrogation, Patel admitted to orchestrating the theft with an accomplice. He had learned about Sheikh’s crypto assets during the investigation and used the suspect’s phone to execute the unauthorized transfer. The stolen funds were swiftly moved to a third-party wallet to cover his tracks. Patel later confessed to investing Rs 30 lakh in the stock market, lending Rs 8 lakh to associates, and spending Rs 2 lakh.
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Facing the Law
Patel has been booked under various charges, including theft, fraud, and criminal breach of trust under the Information Technology Act at Maninagar police station. Authorities are now probing whether he has committed similar crimes in the past or is linked to other cyber fraud cases.
This shocking case underscores how even those entrusted with cybercrime investigations can exploit their expertise for personal gain, raising concerns about security loopholes in digital forensics operations.