Siliguri Arrest by CBI Leads to Busting of Cybercrime Network Scamming Germans

KalimNews, Siliguri, February 19, 2025 : With the arrest of a key accused in Siliguri, the CBI has claimed the dismantling of a sophisticated virtual asset-supported cybercrime network that has been targeting German nationals since 2021. This operation, named ‘Operation Chakra-IV,’ was executed in close coordination with German authorities. In a press release, the CBI confirmed that the operation was conducted with the full cooperation of the German law enforcement agencies.

Rahul Shaw, a key accused in the case, was apprehended by the CBI in Siliguri and subsequently produced before the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate-6 at Rouse Avenue District Courts in New Delhi.

Seven mobile phones, one laptop, and incriminating documents related to the crime were recovered during searches at his residence.

The CBI’s International Operations Division had registered a case on February 12, 2025, against Rahul Shaw, Shubham Sharma, Rajeev Budhiraja, and others under sections 120-B, 420, 467, 468, and 471 of the Indian Penal Code, along with section 66D of the Information Technology Act, 2000, and initiated the investigation.

Between 2021 and 2022, the accused individuals allegedly conspired to gain unauthorized remote access to the victims' computer systems and bank accounts by posing as tech support providers. They falsely informed the German nationals that their bank accounts had been compromised and manipulated them into transferring Euro 646,032 to cryptocurrency wallets controlled by the criminals.

Following the registration of the case, the CBI swiftly conducted extensive searches at multiple locations connected to the accused. These searches, carried out between February 14 and 17, 2025, in Delhi, Kolkata, and Siliguri, uncovered evidence that the criminal network was channeling the proceeds of their illegal activities through virtual assets.

The CBI arrested Rahul Shaw, a key accused, in Siliguri. Shaw was presented before the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate-06 at Rouse Avenue District Courts in New Delhi. During searches at Shaw’s residence, investigators recovered seven mobile phones, one laptop, and incriminating documents related to the crime.

In addition, the CBI unearthed and dismantled an illegal call center operated by Shaw and other co-conspirators at Webel IT Park, Matigara, Darjeeling, West Bengal. During the raid, 24 hard disks from computer systems used by the accused, containing digital evidence, were seized.

Further operations are ongoing to trace the proceeds of the crime, and investigations into the broader network and international leads are being conducted in close coordination with foreign law enforcement agencies.

OPERATION CHAKRA-IV, a global law enforcement response led by the CBI with the support of INTERPOL, aims to combat and dismantle organized cyber-enabled financial crime networks. The operation underscores the CBI’s unwavering commitment to fighting and dismantling technology-driven organized crime.