Operation Chakra-V, a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI)-led initiative, targets transnational cybercrime syndicates involved in “digital arrest” scams and tech support frauds. Launched in April 2025, with key raids on April 15 and May 28, 2025. The CBI, in collaboration with international agencies like Interpol, FBI, and Japan’s National Police Agency, arrested 15 operatives, including six targeting Japanese citizens. Through coordinated raids across multiple Indian states and advanced data analysis, the operation dismantled illegal call centers and seized substantial evidence.
In This Article:
Targeting Digital Arrest Scams
Operation Chakra-V marks a significant escalation in India’s fight against sophisticated cybercrime. On April 15, 2025, the CBI arrested four kingpins—two each from Mumbai and Moradabad—following raids at 12 locations across Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, and West Bengal. The operation, initiated after a Rajasthan government request, targeted a syndicate that extorted ₹7.67 crore by impersonating law enforcement officials in “digital arrest” scams, holding victims virtually captive for months. Seized evidence included bank details, debit cards, and digital devices, with the accused remanded to five days’ custody. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had previously warned about such scams in his October 2024 “Mann Ki Baat,” urging citizens to report cases to the cyber helpline.
Busting Tech Support Fraud
On May 28, 2025, the CBI expanded the operation, arresting six operatives targeting Japanese citizens through illegal call centers in Delhi, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh. Posing as Microsoft technical support, the syndicate used social engineering to deceive victims into believing their devices were compromised, coercing transfers to mule accounts. Raids at 19 locations uncovered two illicit call centers, with the CBI collaborating with Japan’s National Police Agency and Microsoft. The arrested included Ashu Singh (Delhi), Kapil Ghakhar (Panipat), and others from Uttar Pradesh, charged under the Indian Penal Code and IT Act.
Broader Impact and Challenges
Operation Chakra-V builds on previous phases (I–IV), which tackled OTP frauds, loan scams, and fake investments, arresting 43 operatives in 2024 alone. The May raids, part of a broader strategy, seized 130 hard disks, 65 phones, and luxury vehicles, highlighting the scale of these networks. India’s cybercrime losses, estimated at ₹1.2 trillion annually, underscore the urgency, with 40% of scams linked to call centers. Collaboration with international agencies like the FBI and Interpol has been crucial, but experts note gaps in real-time data sharing and outdated forensic tools hamper enforcement.
Strengthening India’s Cyber Defenses
The operation signals India’s commitment to securing digital spaces, with the CBI vowing to dismantle support infrastructures. Public awareness campaigns and AI-driven threat detection are being prioritized, but challenges remain in addressing encryption and deepfake tactics.
-By Manoj H