₹200-Crore Cyber Fraud Ring Linking Gujarat, Dubai, and Pakistan Busted

Ahmedabad: The Gujarat Cyber Crime Center of Excellence has uncovered a massive ₹200-crore cyber fraud and money-laundering network that spanned Gujarat, Dubai, and Pakistan. The investigation has revealed how scam proceeds were routed through multiple bank accounts and converted into cryptocurrency before being transferred overseas.

What began as a routine cybercrime case in Gujarat has turned into one of the state’s most complex cross-border fraud probes. The Cyber Crime Center, along with the CID Crime Branch, found that a series of “mule accounts” were used to launder funds from various online scams across India.

According to officials, the network operated through a “seven-layer chain” involving people from Morbi, Surat, Savarkundla, and Surendranagar. At the top of the chain was a suspect based in Dubai who managed the cryptocurrency transactions and coordinated the final money transfers to Pakistan.

Superintendent of Police Dr. Rajdeepsinh Zala, who is leading the investigation, said the money trail passed through a firm called Shivam Trading APMC and several shell companies before being converted into digital currencies.

The case came to light when investigators stumbled upon Shivam Trading during an unrelated probe. Though it appeared to be a trading business, it was allegedly being used to move cybercrime proceeds.

Police have arrested six men so far — Mahendra Solanki and Rupen Bhatia from Morbi, Rakesh Laniya and Rakeshkumar Dekavadiya from Lakhtar, and Vijay Khambaliya and Pankaj Kathiriya from Surat. Another key suspect, believed to be operating from Dubai, is still absconding.

During the raids, officers seized 12 mobile phones, 2 SIM cards, and details of 100 bank accounts linked to over 380 cyber fraud complaints nationwide. Investigators also found that nearly ₹12 crore of the laundered money had been invested in a local spa in Morbi.

Officials explained that the group used a chain of money mules — individuals who allowed their bank accounts to be used for illegal transfers. Funds would first be deposited in Shivam Trading’s account, then routed through several other accounts to obscure their origin. Eventually, the money was consolidated in accounts controlled by the Dubai handler, converted into Tether (USDT) cryptocurrency, and transferred to digital wallets in Pakistan.

Authorities believe that ₹10 crore was moved to foreign wallets within four months and that traces of at least ₹29 crore have been found in overseas crypto accounts.

Investigators say the case highlights how cybercriminals are increasingly using cryptocurrency to launder money quickly and discreetly across borders, bypassing traditional hawala systems.

“This is not just a Gujarat story,” said an officer involved in the investigation. “It shows how organized cybercrime networks are evolving into global operations.”

The case has been registered under multiple sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Information Technology Act for cheating, impersonation, and cyber fraud. The probe is ongoing as authorities continue to trace more accounts and digital wallets linked to the network.