Bengaluru: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), in collaboration with state police forces, conducted searches at 115 locations across India as part of a major crackdown on transnational organised cybercrime gangs. As many as 12 locations in the State were searched, and sixteen persons have been arrested.
With assistance from the police forces of these states and Union Territories, the exercise, known as ‘Operation Chakra,’ began on Tuesday October 4 in Karnataka, Delhi, Punjab, Rajasthan, Assam, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Chandigarh, and Haryana. For the operation, the CBI also worked with other private firms, the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Interpol, the Canadian and Australian police, and other private corporations for the operation.
The investigation was carried out in the City by the Central Crime Branch (CCB) officers in connection with 15 cases that were filed at various CEN Police Stations.
Raman Gupta, Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime), said that the investigation was well-coordinated with the CBI. “The nature of crimes include alluring people with jobs, OTP frauds, scamming people by creating false social media profiles, cheating and harassing people by offering loans through Chinese applications and non-banking financial companies,” he said.
Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime) Raman Gupta said, “We have arrested 16 persons and seized 30 bank accounts containing Rs. 1.89 Crore.” He also added that 23 mobile phones and three laptops were seized. In connection with 11 cases, the CBI claimed to have conducted searches in 87 locations across 16 states, while other State/Union Territory Police searched 28 locations, including 2 each in Assam and Punjab, 4 in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, 3 in Chandigarh, 5 in Delhi, and 12 in Karnataka.
“During the searches, 1.5 kg gold was recovered. Huge digital evidence including mobile phones and laptops have been seized. Two call centres in Pune and Ahmedabad were also raided by the CBI,” an official release said.