In a significant breakthrough, the Chowk Bazar police in Surat have apprehended a 25-year-old serial offender who was wanted in connection with a series of high-value cyber fraud cases spanning multiple states across the country. The accused was carrying a cash reward on his head.
Wanted Accused with Nationwide Cyber Crime Trail
The arrested individual has been identified as Shaivin Pumbhadiya. Police records label him as a history-sheeter with a formidable list of charges. A total of six First Information Reports (FIRs) are already registered against him in various police stations, including Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh, Lucknow and Shravasti in Uttar Pradesh, Dwarka and Cyber Outer in Delhi, and Yellandu in Telangana.
The cumulative financial footprint of these alleged frauds is staggering, amounting to approximately Rs 3.80 crore. Due to his elusive nature and repeated failures to trace him, the Bhopal police had declared a reward of Rs 5,000 for information leading to his capture. This bounty was specifically linked to a cyber fraud case involving a sum of Rs 61 lakh.
Arrest After Surveillance and Tip-Off
According to police officials, the breakthrough came from a reliable tip-off. Investigators received information that Pumbhadiya was hiding in the Chowk Bazar area of Surat. Acting on this intelligence, a police team placed him under close surveillance for two days to confirm his movements and identity.
Subsequently, he was successfully apprehended from the area. Further investigation revealed that the accused had come to Surat to attend a social engagement or function, which provided the police with the perfect opportunity to close in on him.
Modus Operandi and Wider Network
Pumbhadiya's criminal activities appear extensive. Beyond the six formal FIRs, police investigations suggest his involvement in at least four other cyber fraud cases registered on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (NCCRP). These cases are spread across Visakhapatnam, Mathura, Rajkot City, and Pudukottai.
His criminal history includes a prior arrest by the New Delhi Special Cell last year in a case related to cheating and criminal conspiracy. Police sources indicate that his role often involved supplying bank accounts that were used as conduits to receive money siphoned off from victims of cyber fraud.
In a deliberate attempt to evade law enforcement, Pumbhadiya had gone absconding after being booked in multiple cases. He reportedly stopped using a mobile phone to avoid being tracked by the police, making his capture more challenging.
Handover and Continued Investigation
Following his arrest in Surat, the local police have completed their preliminary procedures. The accused will now be handed over to the Bhopal police for further investigation and legal proceedings. The Bhopal team is expected to lead the interrogation to unravel the full extent of the interstate cyber fraud network and possibly identify more accomplices.
This arrest highlights the persistent efforts of Indian police forces in tracking down cyber criminals who operate across state borders, exploiting digital platforms to defraud citizens of crores of rupees.
