The Delhi Police has dismantled an international cybercrime syndicate allegedly linked to operatives in Cambodia and other Southeast Asian countries, arresting 11 men for defrauding a retired government scientist of more than ₹1.25 crore in a digital arrest scam. The victim, Pradeep Kumar Das, a former director in the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, was targeted by fraudsters posing as officers from the Delhi Police, the Anti-Terrorism Squad, and the National Investigation Agency. Claiming his identification credentials were tied to a money-laundering inquiry, the callers placed him under round-the-clock video surveillance, coerced his movements, and induced him to transfer ₹1,25,09,000 via RTGS to three separate bank accounts on August 14 under the guise of fund verification. A subsequent inquiry by the Intelligence Fusion and Strategic Operations unit uncovered a broader money trail, connecting the module to 78 cybercrime complaints nationwide with suspicious transactions totaling roughly ₹73 crore.
Raids in Dwarka Uncover Mule Accounts and OTP Forwarding Tools
The investigation gained momentum after officers from the Special Cell acted on intelligence regarding a syndicate arranging bank accounts for cyber fraud. A raid on a rented premise near Ramphal Chowk in Dwarka Sector 7 led to the apprehension of five suspects: Md Mahfuzar Rahman, Izhar Alam, Altaf Hussain, Intekhab, and Anish Khan. Forensic inspection of their seized mobile devices revealed active Telegram communications and an application titled “SMS Tools,” which police suspect was deployed to automatically route one-time passwords and messages to overseas handlers. Investigators identified Khan as a key handler who coordinated transactions with overseas operators, receiving a 5.5 percent commission in USDT cryptocurrency that was subsequently liquidated into Indian rupees. Alam reportedly introduced account holders to Hussain, who sourced mule facilities via Telegram, while Intekhab managed logistics, travel, and physical surveillance of the account holders in Delhi.
Six More Accused Arrested as Syndicate Footprint Expands
Sustained interrogation and forensic analysis led to the arrest of six additional suspects identified as Neeraj Kumar Mittal, Kanwar Pal, Saif Ali Khan, Ranbir, Prabhat Rai alias Ashutosh, and Anil Sagu alias Krishna. Investigators stated that these individuals carried out distinct operational responsibilities, ranging from procuring and managing illicit bank accounts to executing fund transfers and dispersing illicit commission earnings. Officers seized six mobile devices carrying transaction logs, encrypted Telegram conversations, and financial documentation including a cheque book tied to an account under review. Digital forensic examinations established that the syndicate relied on at least seven dedicated online channels to buy and sell mule bank accounts, funneling proceeds derived from dozens of victims across several Indian states into overseas channels.
Multi-State Links and Recovery of Defrauded Funds
The probe has mapped several interstate linkages, including an ongoing digital arrest matter registered in June involving ₹77 lakh and an investment fraud case in West Bengal’s Purba Medinipur district. In the Bengal case, a victim was defrauded of ₹21 lakh, which was credited to a firm account styled M/s MR Traders before ₹5 lakh was routed elsewhere. Crucially, coordination between Delhi Police and Andhra Pradesh Police helped secure ₹7.25 crore of the ₹10.25 crore siphoned from 79-year-old Boppana Baparao in a Vijayawada digital arrest scam. Authorities have also initiated steps to freeze ₹1.96 crore across multiple associated accounts as efforts continue to map foreign handlers and trace remaining funds.
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