The Crime Branch of Surat has uncovered a massive international cyber fraud racket worth nearly Rs2,000 crore, operating under the guise of the city’s textile trade, as part of Operation Mule Hunt. Two key masterminds, Mukesh Tarachand Swami and Babulal alias Preet Kaler, were arrested from Panasgam Canal Road in Vesu, exposing a sprawling network of cybercrime, money laundering, and international links.
The accused had been under police surveillance for an extended period. Investigations revealed connections to organised cyber mafias operating across India and abroad. Authorities also discovered that NGO directors Mitesh Vishwas Patil and Ashish Daljit Sharma had allegedly allowed their trust’s bank accounts to be used to route proceeds from cyber fraud, making tracking extremely difficult.
The gang exploited Surat’s globally recognized textile industry. Operating under the name ‘Savariya Creation’, the accused posed as legitimate fabric traders, giving the impression of handling large-scale international transactions. In reality, the operation served as a front to launder cybercrime funds through the textile market’s enormous daily turnover, allowing money to flow through multiple accounts undetected.
During the arrests, police seized multiple passbooks, cheque books, debit cards, and four smartphones. A technical analysis of these devices revealed extensive evidence. From Mukesh Swami’s phone alone, investigators uncovered details of 44 bank accounts allegedly used exclusively for cyber fraud. Further examination indicated that the operation extended beyond Surat, with links in multiple Indian states and abroad.
