TGCSB Arrests 101 in Multi-State Cybercrime Crackdown Across Southern India

The operation, which began on September 23, covered Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry. It targeted individuals and networks allegedly involved in various forms of cyber-enabled financial fraud, TGCSB Director Shikha Goel said.

This was the second simultaneous multi-state operation led by the TGCSB as part of efforts to identify and dismantle cybercrime networks operating across state borders and exploiting multiple jurisdictions.

Goel said six special teams comprising more than 100 TGCSB personnel were deployed for field-level action during the operation. Of the 101 people arrested, 19 were identified as agents and 81 as mule account holders.

Kerala recorded the highest number of arrests at 35, followed by Andhra Pradesh with 22 and Karnataka with 17. Another 14 arrests were made in Tamil Nadu, 12 in Telangana and one in Puducherry.

Investigators also seized mobile phones, SIM cards, bank passbooks and cheque books allegedly used in fraudulent transactions. Around Rs 17 crore in suspected fraudulent transactions was traced through mule accounts identified during the operation.

The investigation found that those arrested came from varied age groups, professions and educational backgrounds. About 82 per cent were between 20 and 50 years of age, while 17 per cent were above 50.

People involved in business or self-employment accounted for 23 per cent of those arrested, followed by private-sector employees at 13 per cent and housewives or homemakers at 10 per cent. Drivers and operators accounted for 7 per cent, while those working in sales and marketing made up 5 per cent.

In terms of education, 26 per cent had completed Intermediate-level education, 24 per cent were graduates or degree holders and 16 per cent had secondary education. About 11 per cent were uneducated, 7 per cent held diploma or ITI qualifications, 4 per cent had primary education, while 3 per cent each were postgraduates or held professional and other qualifications such as B.Tech and nursing.

The operation uncovered several individuals with extensive alleged cybercrime links across the country. These included an employee of a leading company who allegedly acted as an agent by arranging mule bank accounts for cyber fraudsters in return for commissions, as well as a graduate involved in the money-exchange business who allegedly facilitated accounts on a commission basis.

An ex-serviceman was also arrested in connection with alleged cybercrime activity and was linked to six cases across the country.

Other cases involved an individual with a Diploma in Film Technology who was linked to 26 cybercrime cases, a businessman with an M.Com qualification linked to 34 cases, and a graduate working for Flipkart whose bank account was allegedly used for fraudulent transactions in exchange for commission. Investigators linked the latter to 50 cybercrime cases across India.

An MBA graduate working as the Marketing Head of a group of companies was also arrested and linked to 15 cybercrime cases nationwide.

According to the investigation, cyber fraudsters obtained mule bank accounts through agents and intermediaries and used them to receive, transfer and withdraw illicit funds through channels including ATM withdrawals, bulk transfers and transactions linked to overseas networks. Account holders and intermediaries were allegedly paid commissions of up to 5 per cent of the amount routed through the accounts.

The arrests are connected to 51 cases registered across the TGCSB's seven Cyber Crime Police Stations.

Goel said investigators have so far identified 1,172 crime links across India, including 206 connected to Telangana. Of the 101 people arrested, 50 have more than five crime links across the country, indicating the extent of the networks uncovered during the operation.

Further investigation is underway to identify additional crime links, interstate connections and possible international networks associated with the cybercrime operations.