Background and Timeline: On January 19, 2026, the Rajasthan Police in the Kotputli-Behror district executed a massive joint operation under the strategic banner of “Operation Cyber Mukti.” The multi-location raids targeted a sophisticated, Chinese-led cyber fraud syndicate that has been operating out of extensive compounds in Cambodia. This operation represents the culmination of months of technical monitoring focused on a network that has defrauded Indian citizens of thousands of crores through a variety of high-pressure digital schemes.

Modus Operandi: The syndicate utilized aggressive advertising campaigns on major social media platforms, including Telegram, WhatsApp, Facebook, and Instagram, to lure victims into fake trading applications and websites mimicking legitimate financial portals. Once victims were added to controlled messaging groups, they were subjected to “digital arrests” conducted by fake call centers in Cambodia impersonating officials from the CBI, ED, and Customs. The gang also deployed complex investment frauds, dating scams, and OTP-based deceptions to systematically drain funds from their targets.

Victims and Financial Impact: The network is estimated to have siphoned thousands of crores of rupees from unsuspecting Indian citizens over its period of operation. During the Kotputli-Behror raids alone, authorities detained 41 suspects found to be facilitating the local nodes of the operation. The financial impact is nationwide, with victims targeted through fabricated legal crises and high-yield stock market opportunities that promised returns through fraudulent dashboards.

Investigation and Agencies Involved: The operation was a major joint effort involving the district Cyber Cell and specialized teams from 15 different police stations, totaling more than 100 personnel and 25 separate teams. Raids were concentrated in areas like Bansur, Ramnagar, and Harsora, targeting individuals suspected of acting as local agents for the Cambodian handlers. The investigation continues to analyze seized digital evidence to map the full extent of the syndicate’s financial laundering channels.

Arrests and Suspects: Following the detention of 41 individuals, 15 were subjected to intensive interrogation, resulting in the formal arrest of 25 suspects under Section 170 of the BNSS. The primary regional agent, identified as Suresh Sen, a resident of Ramnagar in Bansur, was arrested under case number 02/2026. He faces multiple charges under sections 316(2), 318(4), and 351(2) of the BNSS, along with Section 66D of the Information Technology Act.

Broader Implications and Trends: This case highlights the growing threat of “industrialized” cybercrime where local Indian agents provide the necessary domestic infrastructure for overseas syndicates. The use of social media advertisements as the primary funnel for “digital arrest” and investment fraud demonstrates how organized crime has transitioned into high-volume digital marketing. Authorities noted that “Operation Cyber Mukti” serves as a critical model for state-wide coordinated strikes against transnational cyber mafias.