Mumbai: Five Arrested by Vakola Police for Rs 25 Crore Online Task Scam

Mumbai, 28th April 2025: The Vakola police have arrested five individuals from Rajasthan and Bhiwandi (Thane) for allegedly duping people across the country through online task scams, with the total fraud amount estimated at over ₹25 crore.

The accused were identified as Rajkaran Singh Tanwar, Karan Singh Ramnaresh Singh (both from Rajasthan), and Mohammad Shahi Asfaq Ansari, Miraj Ansari Mohammad Akram, and Fujali Ahmed Jamil Ahmed Ansari (residents of Bhiwandi).

The arrests were made following a complaint filed by a 26-year-old engineer from Santacruz, who was defrauded of ₹3.5 lakh in December last year. The victim, employed with a private firm, was lured under the pretext of completing paid online tasks. Upon realizing the fraud, he lodged a complaint with the Vakola police, leading to an investigation under the Information Technology Act.

During the investigation, police discovered that the gang had been operating from Rajasthan and Bhiwandi, orchestrating cyber crimes not only in Mumbai and Pune but also in Pimpri-Chinchwad and Chhattisgarh.  large sums of ₹7.27 crore at the East Regional Cyber Police Station, ₹40.85 lakh at the Western Regional Cyber Police Station, ₹13.8 lakh at the North Regional Cyber Crime Police Station, ₹22 lakh in Pimpri-Chinchwad, and ₹48 lakh in Chhattisgarh have been deposited.

Sources suggest the gang is responsible for multiple cases registered across various police jurisdictions. Following their arrest, the accused were produced before the court and remanded to police custody. Vakola police continue to investigate, expecting further links to cybercrimes nationwide.