Gujarat Police have recovered more than ₹5.51 crore for victims of cyber fraud while dismantling an international syndicate responsible for scams worth nearly ₹804 crore across India. Minister of State for Home Harsh Sanghavi announced the breakthrough on Friday, stressing the state&rsquo;s commitment to protecting citizens from digital crimes. &ldquo;The Gujarat Police have launched a determined campaign against cyber criminals who exploit the hard-earned savings of our citizens. Even if they have hidden themselves in the depths, we will locate and bring them to justice,&rdquo; he said.
The reimbursements were made through the &ldquo;Tera Tujko Arpan&rdquo; programme run by the Gandhinagar Cyber Centre of Excellence. In Vadodara, a senior citizen tricked by fraudsters impersonating insurance company representatives for ₹4.91 crore had the entire amount frozen and returned. In Ahmedabad, police rescued an elderly woman from a so-called &ldquo;digital arrest&rdquo; that lasted twelve days on Skype, recovering ₹48 lakh from fraudsters posing as police officers. In another case, ₹12.7 lakh lost through a fraudulent trading application called ROCKCREEAK was restored to the family.
Investigations revealed the syndicate operated from Dubai, Vietnam, and Cambodia, persuading people to hand over bank accounts and SIM cards in exchange for a small commission of 1.5&ndash;2 per cent. These accounts and numbers were then used to carry out large-scale cyber fraud across India. Officials said the network was involved in 1,549 cases nationwide, defrauding victims of ₹804 crore, including 141 cases in Gujarat that together amounted to ₹17.75 crore. Ten core members of the racket were arrested in Surat, and police seized 65 mobile phones, 447 debit cards, 529 bank account kits, 686 SIM cards, and 16 POS machines as evidence.
Sanghavi urged citizens to remain alert and to adopt a &ldquo;cyber security shield&rdquo; in their daily lives. He reminded the public that there is no such thing as a &ldquo;digital arrest&rdquo; in Indian law, cautioning, &ldquo;There is no legal provision for a &lsquo;digital arrest&rsquo; in India, and there is no need to fear such fake calls.&rdquo; He further advised people to report suspected cybercrime immediately to the 1930 helpline, pointing out that the first hour is critical for recovering stolen money. Warning against social media schemes that promise quick profits, he said, &ldquo;Sharing bank accounts or SIM cards for financial gain constitutes a serious crime, with participants considered accomplices.&rdquo;
In addition to the cybercrime crackdown, Sanghavi announced a cultural initiative called &lsquo;Operation Sindoor&rsquo; to honour India&rsquo;s armed forces. He appealed to citizens to join in the tribute during the Navratri festival on the seventh night, September 28, at 11 pm, when garba performances across Gujarat will be dedicated to soldiers. &ldquo;Tomorrow night, the entire state will dance in unison to pay tribute to our armed forces,&rdquo; he said, urging organisers and participants to ensure that every beat and movement expresses gratitude. Emphasising that Navratri is both a spiritual celebration of Ma Amba and a recognition of courage, Sanghavi added, &ldquo;When the garba plays, let every step and rhythm convey honour and gratitude to our soldiers. Together, we will transform this festival into a unique tribute to our nation&rsquo;s defenders.&rdquo;

Cyber Fraud Worth Rs 804 Cr Busted, Says Gujarat Minister

Gujarat Police recover Rs 5.51 Cr, expose major international cyber fraud network

Cyber Fraud Worth Rs 804 Cr Busted, Says Guj Min

Gujarat Police recover Rs 5.51 Cr, expose major international cyber fraud network

September 27, 2025 | 18:47 IST