New Delhi: In a major crackdown on cybercrime networks facilitating “digital arrest” scams, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), under Operation Chakra-VI, constituted 60 special teams and conducted coordinated searches at more than 80 locations across 16 states and union territories, agency said on Thursday.
The agency said the searches covered Punjab, Gujarat, Delhi, Maharashtra, Haryana, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Assam, West Bengal, Manipur, Karnataka and Odisha. The action is part of an ongoing probe aimed at dismantling an organised operation linked to more than 200 reported digital arrest cases, the CBI added.
Fake Supreme Court Site
The CBI said the investigation followed a complaint from the Registry of the Supreme Court of India and revealed a fraudulent website using a URL closely resembling the court’s official site. “Based on a complaint received from the Registry of the Supreme Court of India, CBI registered an FIR and commenced investigation into the matter,” the agency said.
Use Of Forged Documents
The agency said investigators uncovered that the perpetrators uploaded fabricated paperwork designed to look like official court orders and documents from law‑enforcement bodies to bolster the credibility of their scams. “Investigation has revealed that the perpetrators uploaded forged and fabricated documents, including fake orders resembling those issued by courts and various law enforcement agencies, to lend credibility to their fraudulent activities,” the CBI said.
Arrests & Alleged Money‑Laundering
During the searches, two people were taken into custody: B Naresh in Chennai and Sanjib Saha in Kolkata. The CBI alleged they were involved in creating shell companies and running mule bank accounts used to move illicit funds. The agency said the accounts were “used for laundering approximately ₹two crores of suspected proceeds of crime”.
Seizures & Forensic Work
Investigators recovered a range of material, including documents, digital devices, mobile phones and bank transaction records, all of which are now undergoing detailed forensic analysis, the agency said. The CBI also said it applied advanced forensic tools and technical expertise to map critical nodes of the criminal network both inside India and overseas. “The agency leveraged advanced forensic tools and technical expertise to identify critical elements of the criminal infrastructure operating both within India and abroad,” the statement said.
International Victims
The CBI reported evidence suggesting the network may have victimised citizens of several other countries and said it is notifying relevant overseas law‑enforcement authorities through proper channels. “CBI has also found evidence indicating that, in addition to Indian citizens, nationals of several other countries may have been defrauded by the same network, it said, adding that the concerned law enforcement agencies in those jurisdictions are being alerted through appropriate channels,” the agency said.
