Thane, Maharashtra: The law enforcement authorities in Thane, Maharashtra, have apprehended two individuals in connection with a staggering financial crime, involving a breach of a payment gateway service provider's system, resulting in the illicit siphoning of more than Rs16,180 crore. This operation came to light as the result of meticulous investigative work, with officials taking swift action to apprehend the suspects.

The two suspects taken into custody are Anup Dubey, a 26-year-old resident of Bhayander, and Sanjay Namdeo Gaikwad, a 42-year-old Mumbai resident who holds a partnership in a firm. Their arrests represent a significant breakthrough in the ongoing investigation into this complex financial fraud.

According to law enforcement authorities, this fraudulent activity had persisted for an extended period, remaining undetected until a formal complaint was filed with the Srinagar police station in April 2023. The complaint highlighted a security breach within the payment gateway system of a prominent company, leading to the unlawful siphoning of Rs25 crore. Subsequent inquiries by the cyber cell team uncovered a web of suspicious transactions, tallying an astonishing Rs16,180 crore.

On October 6, the Naupada police in the city initiated legal proceedings, registering a case against five individuals under various sections of the law, including 420 (cheating), 409 (criminal breach of trust), 467, 468 (forgery), 120B (criminal conspiracy), and 34 (common intention), along with provisions of the Information Technology Act.

The First Information Report (FIR) reveals that one of the accused, Jitendra Pandey, had previously worked for an extensive period of 8 to 10 years within the banking industry, holding positions as a relationship and sales manager. This background has added a layer of complexity to the ongoing investigation, raising questions about the potential involvement of other individuals within the financial sector.

Law enforcement officials suspect that this massive fraudulent operation may involve multiple individuals, potentially with nationwide implications affecting various companies and private individuals. The true extent of the impact is yet to be fully understood, as the investigation continues to unfold.

Previous statements by the police indicated that the accused had purportedly established several partnership firms using falsified documents to facilitate the laundering of the ill-gotten funds. This elaborate scheme involved the creation of at least five partnership firms, with transactions amounting to Rs16,180 crore coming to light during the scrutiny of 260 bank statements, a testament to Stop Crime: Class 3 boy Sodomised after forcing him to watch porn

the sheer scale and audacity of the operation.