In a major breakthrough, Gujarat CID (Crime) and the Railways Cyber Centre have uncovered a Rs 200 crore cybercrime racket operating from Gujarat to Dubai. Six people have been arrested in one of India’s most organised online fraud syndicates. The group is accused of running multiple scams, converting stolen funds into cryptocurrency, and transferring the money abroad through hawala and angadia networks.
The investigation began as a routine inquiry into small-scale frauds but soon revealed a large, coordinated operation. The cybercrime network connected local operatives in Gujarat with handlers based in Dubai, exposing a web of deceit that defrauded victims across India through fake loan offers, bogus part-time job advertisements, and false investment schemes.
The six arrested have been identified as Mahesh Solanki and Rupen Bhatiya from Morbi, Rakesh Lania and Rakeshkumar Dekawadiya from Lakhatar in Surendranagar, and Naviya Khambhaliya and Pankit Kanthariya from Surat. Officials said the group used over 100 bank accounts to circulate stolen money, linking the syndicate to 386 cybercrime cases nationwide, including 29 in Gujarat.
Investigators found that the fraud money was first deposited into fake or “mule” bank accounts. The funds were withdrawn in Morbi and sent to Surat through the angadia courier network. In Surat, the cash was converted into cryptocurrency, mainly USDT (Tether), and transferred to Dubai via crypto wallets and hawala channels.
To conceal their operations, the accused registered a fake trading firm in the market yard, which served as a front for opening multiple mule accounts. These accounts were used for cheque clearances, ATM withdrawals, and cryptocurrency transactions. Some account holders, unaware of the scale of the cyber fraud, received monthly payments of Rs 25,000, while intermediaries earned Rs 650 for every Rs 1 lakh laundered.
ASP Sanjaykumar Keshwala explained, “They registered a trading unit only to open mule bank accounts. The stolen money was funnelled through these accounts, converted into cash or cryptocurrency, and transferred to Dubai-based handlers.”
Keshwala added that the investigation is now focused on tracing the syndicate’s international connections. “This cybercrime case clearly involves cryptocurrency transactions with possible foreign masterminds. We are tracing the Dubai connection and tracking every digital footprint,” he said.
With 12 mobile phones, two SIM cards, and extensive financial records seized, officials believe this discovery is only the beginning. Further arrests are expected as the investigation continues.
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