A months-long probe by Delhi Police has unravelled an extensive cyber fraud ecosystem that allegedly moved close to Rs 180 crore through a maze of shell companies and mule bank accounts, exposing how organised online scams are being financially engineered across the country.
The operation, carried out under a special campaign named Operation Cy-Hawk, was aimed at breaking the money trail behind cyber fraud rather than just catching end-level scammers. Police said the focus was on identifying entities that quietly received, layered and redistributed money cheated from victims nationwide.
The breakthrough came after cyber investigators noticed a pattern while reviewing complaints on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal. Funds from multiple fraud cases—registered in different states—were consistently landing in the same corporate bank account. That account belonged to Kudremukh Trading (OPC) Private Limited, a firm operating out of Delhi’s Connaught Place.
What initially appeared to be a routine business account soon raised red flags. Investigators found no genuine commercial activity, but a steady inflow of large sums followed by rapid transfers. This prompted police to register a criminal case in November 2025 under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and begin a detailed financial audit.
The account was opened in the name of Rajesh Khanna, who, during questioning, revealed that he was acting on instructions from two individuals, Sushil Chawla and Rajesh Kumar Sharma. Police say the duo controlled transaction passwords, decided fund movements, and allegedly floated nearly 20 paper companies to obscure the money trail.
As investigators peeled back layers of transactions, they linked the network to at least 176 cyber fraud cases, with the cumulative amount estimated at around Rs 180 crore. The funds were allegedly circulated through multiple company accounts before being withdrawn or diverted, making detection difficult.
Before the investigation could be completed, Rajesh Khanna died in Noida. Police believe he was used primarily as a front to open accounts, while operational control remained elsewhere. The remaining suspects initially cooperated but later stopped responding to notices, leading to their arrest.
During searches, police seized two mobile phones and a laptop believed to contain crucial digital evidence. Authorities are now working with the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) to map national linkages and identify other beneficiaries and operatives connected to the network.
