Gujarat: Rs 53cr cyber scam busted, link to Baba Siddique murder case surfaces

Ahmedabad: The Cyber Centre of Excellence of the CID (Crime), Gujarat, has busted an inter-state racket involving transactions worth over Rs 53 crore and arrested 10 accused from Anand and Ahmedabad. One of the arrested operatives had facilitated a bank account that was allegedly used by accused in the sensational killing of former Maharashtra minister Baba Siddique, adding a crucial financial link to the ongoing probe.Acting on directives for intensified action against rising cybercrime, a special team carried out a coordinated operation using human intelligence and technical surveillance. The accused were found to be part of a network that sourced bank accounts on commission and routed fraud proceeds through them. Analysis of seized mobile phones revealed details of 197 bank accounts, of which at least 60 were linked to 132 cybercrime complaints registered across India, involving an estimated Rs 53.5 crore.The complaints span multiple states, including Gujarat, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Kerala and Tamil Nadu, pointing to a well-oiled syndicate operating beyond state borders. Officials said the accused played key roles in acquiring, managing and circulating mule accounts used to layer illicit funds and evade detection.Crucially, investigators found that one of the accused had arranged a Karnataka Bank account for individuals linked to the murder of Baba Siddique. Maharashtra Police had earlier arrested the account holder in connection with the case. The development indicates how cybercrime networks are increasingly intersecting with serious organized offences by enabling anonymous financial channels.The killing of Baba Siddique had sent shockwaves across Maharashtra's political circles, with multiple teams probing the conspiracy, financial trails and possible handlers behind the attack. The fresh arrests in Gujarat are expected to help investigators piece together the money trail and identify facilitators who may have supported the accused through illicit banking infrastructure. During the operation, police seized 11 mobile phones, cheque books, passbooks and debit cards linked to multiple accounts. Officials said further investigation is underway to identify additional beneficiaries and expand the crackdown on similar rackets.
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