SURAT: In a major breakthrough, Surat cybercrime police arrested notorious cybercriminal Parth Gopani, who is linked to 173 cyber fraud cases across India, including a Rs 1.15 crore digital extortion case in Surat.
Gopani was apprehended at Lucknow airport just as he was about to board a flight to Thailand, en route to Cambodia, where he had allegedly been operating a cyber extortion racket in collaboration with Chinese gangs. His key role in the network was to convert illegally obtained money into crypto currency and route it to Chinese operatives.
Deputy commissioner of police (crime), Bhavesh Rojiya, told TOI: "We were probing a case involving a 90-year-old Surat resident who was duped of Rs 1.15 crore. The victim had been threatened using the names of ED, CBI, and other central agencies. Our investigation revealed that Parth Gopani was the mastermind, running the extortion ring from Cambodia with the support of Chinese cybercriminals."
Following the revelation, police issued a Lookout Circular (LOC) against Gopani. Intelligence later indicated that he had relocated to Nepal four months ago to resume operations from there. On May 14, he entered India from Nepal but was intercepted at Lucknow airport while attempting to fly out.
Police said Gopani has committed cyber frauds across the country, including a Rs 5 crore scam in Ahmedabad, and is wanted in nine cybercrime cases in Gujarat alone.
Rojiya added: "Gopani operated from several countries, including UAE, Vietnam, Thailand, Myanmar, and Cambodia. He facilitated Chinese gangs by providing access to Indian bank accounts into which fraud money was deposited. He then withdrew the funds in Surat with help from relatives and associates, converted them into crypto currency, and transferred the amount overseas after taking his cut."
Gopani had been hiding in Nepal for four months in an attempt to set up a fresh extortion hub there. Five people have already been arrested in connection with the Rs 1.15 crore fraud, including Gopani's relative Ramesh Katariya.
Gopani is set to be produced in court on Saturday.
Gopani was apprehended at Lucknow airport just as he was about to board a flight to Thailand, en route to Cambodia, where he had allegedly been operating a cyber extortion racket in collaboration with Chinese gangs. His key role in the network was to convert illegally obtained money into crypto currency and route it to Chinese operatives.
Deputy commissioner of police (crime), Bhavesh Rojiya, told TOI: "We were probing a case involving a 90-year-old Surat resident who was duped of Rs 1.15 crore. The victim had been threatened using the names of ED, CBI, and other central agencies. Our investigation revealed that Parth Gopani was the mastermind, running the extortion ring from Cambodia with the support of Chinese cybercriminals."
Following the revelation, police issued a Lookout Circular (LOC) against Gopani. Intelligence later indicated that he had relocated to Nepal four months ago to resume operations from there. On May 14, he entered India from Nepal but was intercepted at Lucknow airport while attempting to fly out.
Police said Gopani has committed cyber frauds across the country, including a Rs 5 crore scam in Ahmedabad, and is wanted in nine cybercrime cases in Gujarat alone.
Rojiya added: "Gopani operated from several countries, including UAE, Vietnam, Thailand, Myanmar, and Cambodia. He facilitated Chinese gangs by providing access to Indian bank accounts into which fraud money was deposited. He then withdrew the funds in Surat with help from relatives and associates, converted them into crypto currency, and transferred the amount overseas after taking his cut."
Gopani had been hiding in Nepal for four months in an attempt to set up a fresh extortion hub there. Five people have already been arrested in connection with the Rs 1.15 crore fraud, including Gopani's relative Ramesh Katariya.
Gopani is set to be produced in court on Saturday.
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