Punjab’s Cyber Crime Division arrested Gaurav Kumar from Kharar for operating a fake website impersonating the Punjab government’s Mining Department. The fraudulent website, “minesgeologypunjab.in,” replicated the official site to generate counterfeit mining receipts, enabling the movement of vehicles involved in illegal mining activities.
The accused created the website in November 2024, which continued to operate until January 2025. The fake receipts included barcodes and QR codes mimicking the official ones, allowing vehicles to bypass security checks.
Kumar, in collaboration with an accomplice from Ferozepur, generated over 2,000 fake mining receipts, resulting in an estimated loss of Rs 40-50 lakhs to the Punjab government. The police recovered vital data, including receipts, vehicle details, and computer systems linked to the crime. Investigations are ongoing to uncover the full scope of the illegal network.
