CBI Initiates Operation Chakra-VI to Dismantle Widespread Digital Arrest Scams
The CBI has launched Operation Chakra-VI, conducting over 80 raids across 16 states to dismantle networks behind digital arrest scams. The operation follows reports of fraudsters using a fake Supreme Court website to deceive victims and launder proceeds of crime.
Highlights
- •CBI launched Operation Chakra-VI across 16 states to combat digital arrest scams.
- •Raids were conducted at over 80 locations involving 60 special investigative teams.
- •Two individuals were arrested in Chennai and Kolkata for managing shell companies and mule accounts.
- •The operation uncovered a fake website mimicking the official Supreme Court domain used for intimidation.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has launched a nationwide crackdown targeting the infrastructure behind digital arrest scams. Under the strategic banner of Operation Chakra-VI, the agency has initiated extensive, coordinated searches across 16 different states to dismantle networks facilitating these deceptive financial crimes.
This widespread operation involved the deployment of 60 specialized teams, conducting raids at over 80 locations. The states impacted by this investigation include Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Assam, West Bengal, Manipur, Karnataka, and Odisha. The ongoing investigation aims to neutralize a criminal network linked to more than 200 incidents of fraud.
Dismantling Fraudulent Infrastructure and Laundering Networks
Authorities have already apprehended two individuals in Chennai and Kolkata for their suspected roles in establishing shell companies and managing mule bank accounts. These financial channels were allegedly utilized to launder approximately Rs 2 crore in proceeds obtained through criminal activities. During the raid, investigators seized various incriminating items, including digital devices, mobile phones, and comprehensive bank transaction records, which are currently undergoing rigorous forensic analysis.
A significant focus of the investigation involves a fraudulent website discovered by the CBI that mirrored the URL of the official Supreme Court website. By using this deceptive domain, criminals intimidated victims into believing they were under a digital arrest. Following a formal complaint from the Supreme Court Registry, a First Information Report (FIR) was filed to initiate the probe.
Global Scope and Future Implications
The investigation has revealed that the perpetrators utilized sophisticated methods, including the creation of fabricated legal documents and counterfeit court orders, to establish a veneer of legitimacy. By leveraging advanced technical and forensic tools, the CBI successfully identified key nodes of this criminal operation, which extends beyond national borders. Evidence suggests that nationals from multiple countries may have been targeted by the same network, and the agency is working to alert international law enforcement partners accordingly.
The CBI has reaffirmed its commitment to pursuing this case to its conclusion, aiming to ensure justice for the victims while continuously working to dismantle the broader cybercrime infrastructure that enables these illegal schemes.
