Belagavi Police Uncover Major Inter-State Cyber Fraud Network
In a significant crackdown, the City Cyber Crime police in Belagavi have successfully dismantled a highly sophisticated inter-state cyberfraud network. This criminal operation is alleged to have duped numerous citizens out of crores of rupees by offering fraudulent work-from-home job opportunities and government loan assistance schemes.
Arrests and Initial Complaint
The investigation led to the arrest of two key accused individuals. Megha Maradolkar, a resident of Belagavi, was apprehended in Goa, while Hyderali Ghulamali Ujjainwala was taken into custody in Mumbai. The racket first came to light in late February following a formal complaint filed by a local resident named Manasi. Detailed police investigations revealed that Megha Maradolkar lured victims with promises of lucrative remote employment positions and assistance in securing government-backed loans.
Modus Operandi and Seizures
She allegedly collected personal documents from these individuals and, without their informed consent, used this sensitive information to open multiple bank accounts in their names. These accounts were then utilized as mule accounts to channel and launder fraudulent funds. A thorough search conducted at Megha's residence resulted in the seizure of documents linked to as many as 72 bank accounts, all opened in the names of unsuspecting citizens primarily from the Belagavi region.
Mumbai Connection and Syndicate Operations
Police uncovered a well-coordinated operation extending to Mumbai. Megha allegedly couriered bank kits and passbooks to Ujjainwala in Mumbai. He, along with his son and associates—identified as Idris Ali and Aziz Bora—as well as Megha's daughter Shivani, are accused of managing the routing and distribution of the defrauded money through a broader cybercrime syndicate. Authorities have so far detected fraudulent transactions totalling more than Rs 1.2 crore. Out of the identified accounts, 47 have been directly linked to 144 cybercrime complaints registered on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (NCRP), highlighting the extensive and far-reaching impact of this criminal network.
Police Leadership and Public Advisory
The operation was spearheaded by ACP BS Mantura and inspector SN Gabi, under the vigilant supervision of city police commissioner Bhushan Borase. Commissioner Borase commended the investigative team for their diligent efforts in tracking the complex inter-state money trail. Both arrested accused are currently in judicial custody, while law enforcement agencies are actively pursuing other members of the syndicate. Police have issued a strong advisory urging citizens to exercise extreme caution. They recommend avoiding the sharing of personal documents or opening bank accounts on behalf of unknown individuals who offer guaranteed jobs or loan approvals, as these are common tactics used by cyber fraudsters.
