17 March,2026 03:21 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis. File Pic
A total of 2,163 cybercrimes linked to investment scams were recorded in Maharashtra last year and 455 people were arrested in connection with the cases, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis told the state assembly on Tuesday.
CM Fadnavis, who also oversees the home department, said the state has enhanced measures to combat cyber fraud, focusing on protecting vulnerable groups including women, children, and senior citizens, reported PTI.
"The Maharashtra Cyber Security Project has been implemented with advanced technology and skilled manpower, with headquarters at Mahape in Navi Mumbai," he noted in a written reply to a question by Congress MLA Aslam Shaikh.
He added that a nodal cyber police station has been established, while 50 district cyber labs and police units are functioning to investigate technically complex cybercrimes.
According to PTI, the CM highlighted that 26 expert consultants have trained around 1,000 police officers and staff in the use of forensic tools for cyber investigations.
Fadnavis cited examples of large-scale investment frauds, where victims were lured through fake trading applications and social media platforms, resulting in losses running into crores of rupees.
He also said awareness campaigns are being conducted through social media, the official portal www.cybercrime.gov.in, and the cyber helpline number 1930 to help people report and prevent cybercrimes.
Last week, the Navi Mumbai police busted a fake call centre in Mahape, located in the northern part of Navi Mumbai, that allegedly cheated people of more than Rs 1 crore by promising high returns through share market trading.
Two people were arrested in connection with the scam, officials said.
The raid was conducted on March 12 by the police's financial intelligence and cyber units, following a tip-off.
During the raid, police found 22 young men and women working at the fake call centre premises. They were communicating with potential victims via WhatsApp chats and phone calls using computers, the police said. The call centre was operating under the name of a share market research company.
Its staff contacted individuals, claiming they could provide investment opportunities in intraday and equity stock trading while promises of attractive high profits.
Chats recovered from the computers revealed that victims were promised higher returns if they invested in the stock market through the company. The victims were asked to transfer money to bank accounts shared by the call centre operators.
Preliminary investigations suggested that the call centre had defrauded people of at least Rs 1.02 crore by sending payment links and directing victims to transfer funds to the company's account as well as 18 other bank accounts as per PTI reports.
Police checked the accounts linked to the call centre on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal and found that at least five cyber fraud complaints from across India were connected to the accounts.
Two people have been arrested in connection with the case neamely Shivam Vinodkumar Dubey (29) and Sujit Masicharan Warimiki (30). They are both residents of Thane district. Their exact role in the call centre has not been specified. Another accused is currently absconding, and the police is making efforts to trace him.
A case has been registered at the Cyber Police Station under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, the police said. Investigations are ongoing to identify any further links and prevent similar scams in the future.
The crackdown highlights the police's commitment to tackling such scams and safeguarding the public from fraudulent schemes.
(With PTI Inputs)
