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Ahmedabad | August 2025
What started as a minor complaint led Gujarat police to uncover one of India’s most extensive cyber laundering networks spanning 25 states and territories. A victim’s report of a ₹24,988 loss triggered a nationwide criminal investigation involving 518 cases and a staggering ₹23.23 crore in illicit transactions.
From Small Fraud to Major Bust
- A resident of Paldi, Ahmedabad, filed a complaint of losing just ₹24,988 to cyber fraud. However, investigators from the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (NCCRP) discovered suspicious money flows across numerous accounts.
- Authorities traced the funds through a web of bank accounts using a technique called “layering”, wherein stolen money was moved through legitimate Indian bank accounts before being withdrawn as cash. This led to accounts in Yes Bank, Union Bank, and one labeled Jubilee Hills Merchant, involved in the laundering of the entire ₹23.23 crore. Investigators have frozen ₹9.68 crore in tainted funds so far.
Arrests and Evidence Seized
- Six individuals have been arrested, including Arifkhan Akbarkhan, Ashwinkumar Natwarlal, Smit Satishchandra, Rakesh Savaram, Jagdishkumar Mahendrabhai, and Jasmine Rajubhai.
- Law enforcement also seized ₹3.16 crore in cash, multiple mobile phones, cheques, chequebooks, and bags—clearly showing how a single complaint unearthed a wide-reaching cybercrime ring.
Why This Case Matters
| Dimension | Insight |
| Grassroots Trigger | A small-time cyber complaint snowballed into a massive national probe. |
| Sophisticated Methods | Use of layering technique exemplifies advanced financial deception. |
| Systemic Vulnerability | Even minor fraud complaints can mask billion-rupee criminal networks. |
| Need for Vigilance | A powerful reminder: citizens and authorities must remain cyber-aware. |
Police Perspective
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone 7), Shivam Varma, emphasized the complexity of the laundering strategy, highlighting how repeated use of certain accounts pointed to orchestrated criminal frameworks. “Our investigation began from a seemingly simple complaint,” he noted, underscoring the importance of forensic banking tools and digital oversight.(
Parting Thoughts
From a modest complaint to a massive bust, this investigation lays bare the depth of cybercriminal reach in India. It shows how digital fraud—if unchecked—can feed massive financial crimes. The smart use of NCCRP protocols and inter-state coordination has been crucial, but this is only the beginning. With ₹23 crore unlocked, police now must dismantle the larger web behind it and strengthen the digital defenses of every Indian citizen.
