Surat/Ajmer: A major breakthrough in cybercrime investigation came as the Gujarat Crime Branch arrested Hitesh Praveenchandra Dhodiyawala, the alleged mastermind behind a multi-state digital arrest scam that defrauded a female professor in Ajmer, Rajasthan, of Rs7.5 lakh.
The incident took place on August 30, 2025, when the professor received a call falsely claiming that a SIM card in her name was used to send obscene messages. The scam escalated with a video call from a man impersonating CBI officer Daya Nayak, who warned of a pending Supreme Court case and threatened her with a so-called “digital arrest.”
In a state of fear, the victim transferred Rs7.5 lakh online to “clear her name,” only to later discover the deception.
A probe by the Ajmer Cyber Crime Police traced the fraudulent account to 45-year-old Hitesh Dhodiyawala, based in Jahangirpura, Surat. A special team from Surat’s Vehicle Theft Squad located and arrested him during a late-night raid on Doctor Park Road.
Further investigation revealed that Hitesh, a former stock market trader, previously ran De Hypers Investment Advisors, which collapsed after a Rs.5 crore loss, plunging him into debt. He later joined an online money-laundering ring, connecting with a handler named “Roki” via Instagram.
Hitesh allegedly met other gang members in Ahmedabad and allowed his IndusInd Bank account to be used for routing illicit funds in exchange for commissions. On September 2, 2025, alone, nearly Rs48.78 lakh flowed through his account, from which he earned Rs62,900 in commission. His account is now linked to at least seven cyber fraud cases across West Bengal, Kerala, Maharashtra, and Telangana.
Police also disclosed that Hitesh had a prior case under the Prohibition Act registered at Katargam Police Station.
He has been handed over to the Ajmer Cyber Crime Police for further investigation. The multi-state cyber fraud network is still under active probe.
A middle-aged Indian man being arrested by cybercrime police at night in a residential area of Surat. Background includes digital icons (SIM card, Supreme Court, CBI logo) with a WhatsApp video call screen and a “digital arrest” warning in red. A laptop and bank documents are visible on a table, symbolizing financial fraud.
