Cyber fraud suspect held in Dubai with Interpol help, 150 bank accounts used

Pimpri-Chinchwad cyber police have brought a 26-year-old cyber fraud suspect to India and arrested him in an operation carried out with the help of Interpol. He allegedly got cross-border cyber frauds carried out while sitting in Dubai and routed the money through more than 150 bank accounts. Police investigations have uncovered an alleged organised cyber fraud network in which bank accounts were gathered, fraud proceeds were received in them, and the money was withdrawn in cash after commission was deducted.

The arrested suspect has been identified as Sumant alias Nanu Ravindra Dasare (26), a resident of Nigdi Pradhikaran in Pune. A Look Out Circular (LOC) had been issued against him, after which he was caught in Dubai. He was then deported to India, and a team led by Sub-Inspector Praveen Swami took him into custody at Mumbai airport. Tushar Amraram Chaudhari (29) of Chikhli and Adarsh Santosh Waghmare (27) of Akurdi have also been arrested in the case.

Senior Police Inspector Ravikiran Nale, in charge of the cyber cell, said: "The case was registered at Pimpri-Chinchwad cyber police station under sections 318(4), 317(2), 61(2) and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023. During the investigation, police learnt that the accused were working from abroad and using several bank accounts for cyber fraud transactions."

Nale added: "The investigation showed that Dasare allegedly started working in this racket on a monthly salary of 6,000 dirhams. At first, his job was to phone and message people for share trading and task-based fraud schemes. He allegedly received a commission of four per cent of the money collected from victims."

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime) Rohidas Pawar said: "The arrested accused had become familiar with the racket's methods. He allegedly joined hands with the other accused and began committing cyber fraud in partnership with the main fraudsters. Police suspect he was getting 20 per cent of the total fraud amount." Pawar also said: "We found that Chaudhari and Waghmare allegedly collected more than 150 bank accounts and gave them to Dasare. These accounts were allegedly used to receive money cheated from people through various cyber fraud schemes. Dasare coordinated the transactions from Dubai, and the two associates helped forward and withdraw the money."

Sub-Inspector Praveen Swami, among the officers investigating the case, said: "The accused allegedly withdrew the fraud money in cash, kept their commission and sent the rest onward from the bank accounts provided by Dasare. The initial investigation indicates that the network made more than Rs 1 crore from these activities."

The police action began after Sub-Inspector Swami received firm information from reliable sources about Dasare's whereabouts in Dubai. A Look Out Circular was issued against him with the approval of senior officers. Through coordination with Interpol, the main accused was then traced and detained in Dubai and deported to India.

Police have also found that Dasare's name is allegedly linked to cyber crime cases registered in Hyderabad (Telangana) and Kalewadi, apart from the Pimpri-Chinchwad case. Investigating officers are now examining the entire network, the source of the bank accounts and the possible involvement of some more suspects.

Police Commissioner Vinay Kumar Chaubey said cross-border cyber fraud networks would be dealt with firmly. He has directed officers to step up action against those who aid cyber crime by providing bank accounts and helping fraudsters move money around. Sub-Inspector Swami said: "The investigation has shown that the accused were not just providing bank accounts but were allegedly playing an active role in rotating and withdrawing money from cyber fraud." "We are examining the entire money trail and identifying others involved in the racket."

Dasare has been sent to police custody until November 4. Cyber police are now looking at the possibility of more arrests. They are also investigating call centres allegedly run from Dubai, the money transactions, and the web of bank accounts used to rotate the fraud proceeds.

The operation was carried out under the guidance of Police Commissioner Vinay Kumar Chaubey, Joint Commissioner of Police Dr Shashikant Mahavarkar, Additional Commissioner of Police Sarang Awad, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime) Rohidas Pawar and Assistant Commissioner of Police Rohini Bansode. Several officers took part in the investigation, including Senior Police Inspector Ravikiran Nale, Police Inspector Digambar Gaikwad and Sub-Inspector Praveen Swami.