The Thane Police Cyber Cell's ongoing investigation into a hacking incident has unveiled a series of suspicious transactions amounting to a staggering Rs 16,180 crores. As part of their inquiry, law enforcement officials have made a startling discovery: 260 partnership firm bank accounts were established in the names of slum residents.
The trail of evidence led authorities to the office of Rihyal Enterprises, where documents associated with these bank accounts were recovered. In connection with this complex case, six individuals have been taken into custody.
Remarkably, none of the purported owners of these listed firms possessed any knowledge of these accounts or businesses. Some of the accounts were linked to addresses proximate to Bal Ganesh Tower near Thane railway station, but subsequent investigations revealed that these were fictitious companies utilizing counterfeit addresses.
Moreover, when authorities sought details of these bank accounts, they discerned that an astonishing Rs 16,180 crore worth of transactions had transpired through these accounts since June. A substantial portion of these funds had also been remitted overseas, according to police sources.
The investigation commenced when Paygate India Pvt Ltd reported a cyberattack that resulted in losses totaling Rs 25.18 crore. Of this amount, Rs 1.39 crore was transferred to Rihyal Enterprises Pvt Ltd, an import-export company.
A senior police official provided insights into their findings, noting, "We conducted searches at the office of Rihyal Enterprises and found that several bounced cheque leaves, checkbooks of some partnership firms, and partnership agreements of 97 firms were kept unattended in the office."
Authorities have notified the Income Tax Department and Enforcement Directorate regarding the case, which has culminated in the registration of a case against unidentified individuals under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, as well as pertinent provisions of the Information Technology Act. Strikingly, this case exhibits resemblances to a money laundering scheme that unfolded between 2016 and 2017, ultimately leading to the apprehension of Hawala Operator Mohammad Farook.
