The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Tuesday launched a crackdown at 115 locations, codenamed Operation Chakra, against criminals involved in cyber-enabled financial crimes.
According to the CBI, the operation was launched after inputs from international law-enforcement agencies such as Interpol, America's Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and Australian Federal Police about suspects operating from Indian soil and involved in various cyber offences.
The searches were conducted throughout the day in association with police forces of various states and Union territories. The Bureau said 87 locations were searched by its agents while 28 were searched by local police forces. Over 300 suspects are under the scanner.
Two bogus call centres in Pune and Ahmedabad targeting American citizens were busted during the operation.
According to available information, four locations in the Andaman and Nicobar islands, five in Delhi, three in Chandigarh, and two each in Punjab, Karnataka, Assam, Rajasthan and Maharashtra were among those searched. The CBI also informed the FBI about the action taken, officials said.
From one of the locations searched in Rajasthan, the CBI seized Rs 1.5 crore in cash and 1.5 kg of gold. Digital evidence was seized from Karnataka.
Only last week, the CBI had launched Operation Megh Chakra and conducted nationwide searches at 59 locations across 21 states and Union territories in two cases related to downloading and circulation of child sexual abuse material.
Last month, it had launched a multi-phase Operation Garuda to disrupt, degrade and dismantle drug-trafficking networks with international linkages through rapid exchange of criminal intelligence and coordinated law-enforcement actions across international jurisdiction. The operation in coordination with the Narcotics Control Bureau and state police forces resulted in registration of 127 cases, arrest of around 175 persons, and seizure of a huge quantity of narcotics.
