COIMBATORE: A 10-member gang from Gujarat involved in a fake traffic challan scam has been sentenced to three years’ imprisonment by the Coimbatore District Fourth Judicial Magistrate on Thursday.
Judicial Magistrate S. Arunkumar also imposed a total fine of Rs 3 lakh on the accused: D Bhathliya Rajnibai (37), H Vishwabai (36), Radadiya Chavan (34), D Kohil Vijay (37), S Rathore Jithendrasingh (36), T Mahendrasingh (35), M Sovadiya Mirel (32), R Kapil Rajubai (36), M Sovadiya Meet (25), and J Pal Chandan (34).
All ten were arrested earlier this year in January by the Coimbatore City Cybercrime Police.
The case emerged when C. Samuel (71) of Kavundampalayam received a WhatsApp message on September 8, 2025, containing an APK file and a note about a pending traffic violation. Believing it to be from the traffic police, Samuel downloaded the file. Soon after, he received a message claiming Rs 16.47 lakh had been withdrawn from his fixed deposit account.
Samuel filed a complaint with the cybercrime police on September 12, 2025, prompting an investigation. Police discovered that the stolen money had been transferred to multiple accounts in Surat, Gujarat, revealing the gang’s base of operations.
A police team led by Cybercrime Inspector Alaguraj traveled to Surat and arrested all ten gang members. Authorities seized Rs 3.5 lakh in cash, 311 debit and credit cards, 10 mobile phones, a swiping machine, and a chequebook from them.
The sentencing and seizure mark a significant step in tackling interstate cyber fraud networks exploiting senior citizens and digital banking systems.
