New Delhi: The Intelligence Fusion and Strategic Operations (IFSO) unit of the Cyber Cell under the Special Cell of Delhi Police has dismantled a well-organised transnational cybercrime syndicate that was operating covertly from the national capital, leading to the arrest of nine accused allegedly involved in large-scale cyber fraud and money-laundering activities.
As per police officials, the operation was initiated on November 26, 2025, after IFSO received credible and specific intelligence indicating that a cyber-fraud network was functioning from a hotel in Dwarka and was using multiple bank accounts to route and siphon off illicit proceeds. Acting promptly on the information, an IFSO team carried out a raid at the hotel premises and apprehended four accused— Sultan Salim Shaikh, a resident of Palghar in Maharashtra; Sayed Ahmad Choudhary of Bengaluru, Karnataka; Satish Kumar from Bhiwandi in Thane district, Maharashtra; and Tushar Maliya of Shahdara, Delhi.
During the initial enquiry, the arrested persons disclosed that they were staying together in a single hotel room and were facilitating cyber-fraud operations by providing bank accounts on the directions of another handler. They further revealed that the group frequently shifted their locations in an attempt to avoid detection and evade law enforcement agencies. Subsequent interrogation revealed that accused Sultan Salim Shaikh had opened a current account with Axis Bank Ltd approximately a month earlier at the instance of another member of the syndicate, who allegedly promised him a commission of 25 per cent on fraudulent transactions routed through the account. As part of the inducement, he was also supplied with a new mobile phone. Investigators found bank transaction alerts and related communications linked to the account stored on his handset.
A detailed examination of the bank records showed that the account, which was opened with an initial deposit of Rs 25,421, had recorded as many as 10,423 transactions between November 21 and November 26, 2025, involving a total amount of Rs 5.24 crore. Police said the findings established that the account was being used exclusively for cyber-fraud activities, clearly indicating the accused’s involvement in an organised cybercrime syndicate. Based on the material collected during the investigation, a case was registered on November 27, 2025, at Police Station Special Cell under Sections 112 and 61 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Thereafter, acting on the disclosures made by the initially arrested accused, police arrested five more members of the syndicate—Shivam of Jharodha Kalan in Delhi, Sunil of Begampur in Delhi, Parbhu Dayal of Didwana in Rajasthan, Tarun Sharma of Sikar in Rajasthan, and Suresh Kumar Kumawat of Nagaur in Rajasthan.
Investigators said the probe revealed that the syndicate operated through a structured and layered network comprising bank account holders, middlemen and end-users, all of whom played specific roles in the channelisation of funds generated through cyber-fraud activities. Bank accounts were allegedly procured through intermediaries and supplied to cyber-fraud operators in exchange for commissions. Police further stated that Suresh Kumar Kumawat acted as a crucial link between account suppliers and the main cyber-fraud kingpins, laundering the proceeds through hawala channels and cryptocurrency transactions, particularly using USDT. Searches conducted at his residence led to the recovery of multiple cheque books, debit cards, bank-related documents and a notice issued by Bengaluru Police under relevant BNSS provisions.
During the course of the operation, the police recovered 12 mobile phones containing incriminating chats and communications exchanged among members of the cybercrime syndicate, along with several banking instruments and related documents.
