In a significant breakthrough under ‘Operation Anti-Virus’, Rajasthan Police uncovered a major cyber fraud gang involved in scams worth over Rs10 crore across 16 states. The operation led to the arrest of two individuals, Sudhir Yadav (34), the director of a fake firm, and Anand Soni (39), a dentist, both from Dholpur district in Rajasthan.
The fraud syndicate was responsible for 51 cyber fraud cases, with the total amount defrauded exceeding Rs10 crore, according to police officials. Superintendent of Police Arshad Ali revealed that the investigation began on April 23, following a complaint from Sunil Kumar, who reported a significant financial loss. Kumar stated that he received a Telegram message from an unknown number displaying the photo of a college friend. Believing it to be genuine, he engaged with the fraudster, who convinced him to transfer Rs94.7 lakh over the course of a month, promising returns of Rs2-3 lakh per day through trading and a luxurious lifestyle.
The scam’s complexity prompted Police Inspector Ranveer Singh Beniwal to initiate a detailed investigation. A special team was formed, and through a series of inquiries, the authorities traced the fraud to a fake company, Sudhir Enterprises, which used a fraudulent firm seal and bank account in Sudhir Yadav’s name to carry out cyber fraud activities.
During the investigation, the police arrested Sudhir Yadav and Anand Soni. The two are currently in police remand for further questioning. As a result of the operation, the police managed to recover Rs10 lakh, which was immediately refunded to Sunil Kumar’s bank account. Investigations are still underway to recover the remaining amount and identify other individuals involved in the scam.
The fraud gang’s operations spanned 16 states, with cases registered in Maharashtra (9), Telangana (7), Andhra Pradesh (6), Karnataka (5), Tamil Nadu (4), and Rajasthan and Kerala (3 each), among others. The police are now intensifying efforts to track down other associates and dismantle the entire network.
This operation highlights the growing menace of cyber fraud and serves as a reminder of the sophisticated tactics used by fraudsters to prey on unsuspecting individuals.