Mumbai police have arrested ten individuals linked to a major cyber fraud operation, which resulted in victims losing approximately ₹1.47 crore across five cases. The arrested suspects hail from Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, and Delhi, and are accused of luring victims into investing in share markets through a fraudulent fintech company. After securing the investments, the gang allegedly laundered the money through hawala channels and fake bank accounts.
Among those arrested are Jayesh Unni (34), Arbaz Samir Khan (26), and Shailesh Patel (53) from Navi Mumbai, as well as Ajay Kumar Sukhdev Karche (51) from Malad and Amit Ram Singh (43) from Delhi. The police have placed all ten suspects in custody for further interrogation.
This crackdown comes amid a sharp increase in cyber crimes in Maharashtra, with Navi Mumbai witnessing a staggering 90% rise in online frauds in 2023 alone. In response, the government recently launched the Maha Cyber Security Command Center in Mhape, touted as India’s first state-level cyber crime control hub. This center aims to enhance online safety by training 5,000 police personnel annually. A dedicated helpline, 14407, will also be operational from October 15.
In a related incident, a 67-year-old retired man from Navi Mumbai was scammed out of ₹4.54 lakh after he sought help online to find his bank’s helpline number. The scammer, posing as a bank employee, manipulated the man into transferring funds to another account.
The rise in cyber fraud has prompted law enforcement to ramp up investigations and public awareness campaigns to protect citizens from such scams. As the situation evolves, authorities urge residents to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities to combat the growing threat of cybercrime.
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