‘Operation Octopus’: Hyderabad Police Bust Rs 127-crore cybercrime network across India

The Hyderabad Police have executed one of the biggest cybercrime crackdowns in recent years under 'Operation Octopus'. Over 10 days, 32 special teams raided 16 states, arresting 104 individuals linked to online investment scams, trading frauds, and digital arrest schemes.

Hyderabad: In one of the largest coordinated crackdowns on cybercrime in recent years, the Hyderabad Police have dismantled a sprawling fraud syndicate operating across multiple states, arresting 104 individuals and seizing large quantities of cash and digital equipment.

The operation, code-named ‘Operation Octopus’, was spearheaded by the Cybercrime wing.

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Over a 10-day period, 32 special teams fanned out across 16 states, targeting networks involved in online investment scams, trading frauds and so-called ‘digital arrest’ schemes.

According to information, investigators identified 151 bank accounts allegedly used to channel and launder money siphoned from victims across the country. The accused are suspected to be linked to more than 1,000 cybercrime cases involving an estimated fraud amount of Rs 127 crore.

Those arrested include 86 mule account holders who allegedly allowed their bank accounts to be used for illegal fund transfers, 17 account suppliers who procured and routed bank accounts for the syndicate.

Police said the operation covered Maharashtra, Delhi, Rajasthan, West Bengal, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Haryana, Punjab, Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Uttarakhand and Odisha with teams coordinating closely with local authorities.

During the raids, police confiscated Rs 36 lakh in cash, over 200 mobile phones, 141 SIM cards, 152 bank passbooks, 234 debit and credit cards, 26 laptops and dozens of company seals allegedly used to create shell entities.

Senior officers reiterated that cybercrime is not merely a financial offence but a serious threat to public trust and economic stability. They warned that strict action would be taken not only against masterminds but also against those who enable such crimes, including mule account holders and banking insiders.

Victims of cyber fraud should immediately Dial 1930 or report complaints through the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal to improve the chances of freezing stolen funds.