The North Cyber Police have arrested a 23-year-old man from Surat, Gujarat, for his alleged involvement in a multi-layered cyber fraud network operating across India. The accused, Narayan Shankar Mali, is believed to have played a significant role in multiple scams, including an e-challan malware racket, fake investment schemes, and “like-and-share” frauds that collectively cheated victims of lakhs of rupees.
Originally from Rajasthan’s Bhilwara district, Mali had been living in Surat, where he appeared to manage his brother-in-law’s ice cream shop. However, investigators claim this business served as a cover while he actively assisted cybercriminal operations.
Under the supervision of Senior Police Inspector Kiran Aher, a cyber team led by Police Sub-Inspector Amole Kamble tracked Mali using bank KYC records and technical surveillance. He was apprehended in Surat last week and brought to Mumbai for further questioning.
According to police officials, the syndicate simultaneously operated various cyber fraud models. Mali allegedly functioned as a financial conduit and digital distributor within the network. His responsibilities included arranging bank accounts to channel defrauded funds and distributing malicious e-challan APK links to associates in Rajasthan.
Investigators revealed that four individuals working under him in Bhilwara circulated fake e-challan APK files to thousands of mobile users across the country. Once downloaded, the malware allegedly granted fraudsters remote access to victims’ mobile devices, enabling unauthorized financial transactions and data theft.
Police said the gang earned commissions for every malicious APK link successfully distributed. Further investigations are underway to identify additional members of the network and trace the full extent of financial losses.
