Background and Timeline: The Telangana Cyber Security Bureau (TGCSB) concluded a massive coordinated inter-state operation on Tuesday, January 27, 2026. The crackdown was the result of long-term technical surveillance into multiple high-value fraud cases reported in Hyderabad involving “digital arrests” and trading scams. Simultaneous raids were executed across several locations in Kerala and Bengaluru to dismantle the domestic financial nodes of an international criminal network.
Modus Operandi: The suspects facilitated high-value frauds by providing corporate and individual bank accounts to international cyber networks in exchange for fixed commissions. In one “digital arrest” case, a senior citizen was placed under constant video surveillance via Skype by fraudsters posing as TRAI, CBI, and RBI officials. The syndicate utilized forged documents with fake government logos to coerce the victim into liquidating her assets and transferring them to “government-cleared” accounts.
Victims and Financial Impact: The combined financial loss to victims in this operation exceeded a staggering ₹16 crore, with one senior citizen woman losing ₹5.66 crore. Another victim was defrauded of ₹7.12 crore after receiving a WhatsApp call posing as Blue Dart customer care followed by a fake police interrogation. A Begumpet-based businessman also lost ₹3.40 crore to an online trading and IPO fraud managed through a platform named “ORBM”.
Investigation and Agencies Involved: TGCSB Director Shikha Goel oversaw the operation, which involved two special teams dispatched to Kerala and one team to Bengaluru. The investigation was conducted by specialized teams led by Inspectors D. Srinu, D. Ashish Reddy, and E. Sreenu Naik under the supervision of Deputy SP K.V.M. Prasad. Technical audits of the seized mobile phones are underway to map the communication between the local mule account holders and overseas masterminds.
Arrests and Suspects: Six individuals were arrested, including bank account holders and a primary agent who facilitated the movement of proceeds. Suspects include Renju Pathakku (30), a businessman from Kerala, and Arun Sreenivas (41) and Sanal V Menon (48), both consultants from Kerala. In Bengaluru, police arrested V. Jayaprakash (43), Balaraju (51), and Balaraju G. (55), who were directors of a private service firm and provided corporate accounts for the scam.
Broader Implications and Trends: This case uncovers how legitimate businesses and consultants are being recruited as high-level “mule aggregators” to provide high-limit corporate accounts for laundering. The use of Skype for “digital arrest” surveillance represents a tactical shift to avoid the automated recording and detection features of more common messaging apps. TGCSB has warned that providing bank accounts for commissions makes the holder an active part of a money-laundering network subject to arrest.