The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has launched a massive, pan-India crackdown on cybercrime, deploying its resources across more than 28 cities. This coordinated effort aims to combat the rising tide of financial crimes perpetrated through digital means.

The ED has already identified a staggering ₹28,000 crore in proceeds of crime (PoC) linked to cyber offenses and has seized assets worth over ₹8,500 crore in ongoing investigations. To bolster this initiative, all zonal offices of the ED have been enlisted to investigate cybercrime cases where state police or other agencies have already filed First Information Reports (FIRs) for offenses listed under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). Furthermore, a special task force and two headquarters investigation units (HIUs) based in Delhi have been assigned to probe high-value cases. As of now, the ED has arrested at least 106 individuals suspected of involvement in these crimes.

A key strategy in the ED's approach is to trace the flow of illicit funds generated from cybercrimes. These investigations often reveal that the masterminds behind these scams and Ponzi schemes operate from foreign countries, using channels like hawala or crypto to siphon funds. The involvement of online payment gateways is also under scrutiny.

A two-day coordination meeting held in Srinagar last month, led by ED director Rahul Navin, highlighted the widespread nature of cybercrime and its detrimental effects on vulnerable populations. Data presented at the meeting showcased the scale of the problem, with significant cases being investigated by various ED zonal offices:

• The Raipur zonal office is currently investigating what is considered the country's largest cybercrime case, involving illegal betting platforms with PoC amounting to ₹8,000 crore.
• Mumbai offices are handling cases totaling ₹6,000 crore.
• The two Delhi HIUs are investigating cases worth ₹5,300 crore.
• Hyderabad is dealing with cases involving ₹2,600 crore.

One prominent case is the Mahadev Online Betting App, where the ED has traced the laundering of over ₹8,000 crore. In this case, more than 160 search operations led to the seizure of ₹19 crore in cash, valuables worth ₹17 crore, and the freezing of bank and DEMAT accounts holding ₹2,311 crore. So far, thirteen arrests have been made, and efforts are underway to extradite the masterminds from the UAE. The Mahadev app allegedly facilitated illegal betting on various activities, including cricket, card games, and even elections.

In a separate instance, the ED's Srinagar Zonal Office conducted search operations in the Kangan area of Jammu & Kashmir's Ganderbal district, related to a multi-crore cyber fraud. The investigation was initiated based on an FIR filed by the J&K Police, concerning a cyber fraud involving an employee of Jammu and Kashmir Bank Ltd. The accused allegedly lured individuals into investing in a financial scheme promising high returns through online trading.

The ED's actions extend to cases of GST fraud as well. In West Bengal, the ED provisionally attached 10 immovable properties valued at ₹15.41 crore in Kolkata and Howrah, as part of an ongoing investigation into a GST fraud syndicate. This action was taken under the PMLA and is connected to a larger probe involving fake GST input tax credit (ITC) claims. The accused allegedly used a network of 135 shell companies to issue fake GST invoices without the actual supply of goods, generating fraudulent input tax credit totaling around ₹734 crore.

These examples highlight the ED's commitment to tackling cybercrime through thorough investigation, asset seizure, and prosecution of offenders.