Three men from Bikaner were arrested by the Cybercrime branch officers in Ahmedabad for their alleged involvement in providing their bank accounts to two Chinese nationals to facilitate cyberfraud and extortion activities. Indrajeet Pawar, 37; Rahul Gehlot, 28; and Kailash Kukna, 23 were taken into custody on July 20 and have been remanded in police custody until July 26.

The investigation into the cybercrime case began after a complaint was filed by Arth Patel, a resident of the Tragad area who works for a private firm. Patel reported that he had been cheated of Rs 10 lakh after receiving a call on April 3 from someone claiming to be a courier company employee. The caller informed Patel that a parcel booked in his name contained illegal items such as narcotic drugs, clothes, a laptop, and pen drives. Subsequently, individuals posing as law enforcement officers extorted Rs 10 lakh from Patel. This led to the launch of an investigation by the Cybercrime branch officers who identified Pawar, Gehlot, and Kukna as the perpetrators of the crime.

Further inquiries revealed that Pawar recruited individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds and paid them Rs 5,000 to Rs 8,000 to use their identity documents to open bank accounts. Pawar retained control of these accounts and provided the bank details to Gehlot, who shared them with the two Chinese nationals, known only as Bert and Jack. The Chinese nationals then used these bank accounts for various criminal activities, including courier fraud and share market investment fraud, through which they swindled money from unsuspecting victims. Kukna played a role in withdrawing the proceeds of these crimes and transferring the funds to the Chinese nationals using cryptocurrencies.

In addition to the charges brought against them in Ahmedabad, Pawar, Gehlot, and Kukna were also booked by the Cybercrime police of Faridabad in Haryana and the Special Cell of Delhi Police. The Cybercrime branch officers, led by ACP Hardik Makadia, were able to secure custody of the accused trio through a transfer warrant and conducted extensive interrogations to gather evidence and build a case against them.

The arrest of these individuals highlights the increasing sophistication and cross-border nature of cybercrimes, as well as the need for collaborative efforts between law enforcement agencies to combat such activities. It serves as a reminder of the dangers posed by cybercriminals who exploit technology and vulnerable individuals for financial gain.

In recent years, cybercrimes have become a growing concern globally, with countries like India experiencing a rise in such activities. The case of Pawar, Gehlot, and Kukna is just one example of how individuals can be lured into participating in illegal schemes that can have far-reaching consequences for both the victims and the perpetrators.

As technology continues to advance and cybercriminals become more adept at exploiting vulnerabilities, it is essential for law enforcement agencies to remain vigilant and proactive in their efforts to detect, investigate, and prosecute cybercrimes. The collaboration between different branches of law enforcement, as seen in the case of the arrests in Bikaner and Ahmedabad, is crucial in addressing the complex challenges posed by cybercriminals operating across borders.

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