Surat Arrest Reveals Possible ₹200 Crore USDT Laundering Ties to Pakistan Cyber Network

• Key Arrest Details: Chetan Gangani from Surat was detained for transferring ₹10 crore in USDT to a Pakistan-linked wallet, earning a 0.10% commission per transaction.

• Network Scope: The syndicate operated across Gujarat districts like Morbi, Surendranagar, Surat, and Amreli, using nearly 100 mule bank accounts for laundering.

• Crime Volume: Linked to 386 cyber fraud cases, including digital arrests, task scams, and investment frauds, with funds traced through seven layers to Dubai and Pakistan.

Gujarat cybercrime cryptocurrency laundering exposed: ₹200 crore network busted, Chetan Gangani arrested. Learn how USDT hides money trails to Pakistan. Stay safe from crypto scams—report suspicions now.

What is Gujarat cybercrime cryptocurrency laundering and how does it work?

Gujarat cybercrime cryptocurrency laundering involves criminal syndicates using digital assets like USDT to obscure illicit fund transfers across borders. In a recent case, authorities dismantled a network that laundered ₹200 crore through mule accounts and crypto wallets linked to Pakistan and Dubai. This method exploits cryptocurrency’s anonymity to move money from Indian fraud victims to international handlers.

How did Chetan Gangani’s arrest uncover the Surat crypto money laundering scheme?

The Gujarat CID’s investigation into cyber frauds led to the arrest of Chetan Gangani, a Surat resident, who facilitated ₹10 crore in USDT transfers via his BitGet account to a Pakistan-based wallet over four months. Officials traced the funds through seven complex layers, from initial mule accounts in districts like Morbi and Surendranagar to final destinations in Dubai. According to police reports, the wallet held ₹29 crore total, with Gangani’s contributions forming a significant portion; he received a modest 0.10% commission for each transaction. This bust revealed a broader syndicate using nearly 100 bank accounts operated by six previously arrested individuals, tied to 386 nationwide cybercrimes including investment scams and digital arrests. Expert analysis from cybersecurity firms like those consulted by Indian authorities emphasizes that such schemes thrive on the pseudonymous nature of blockchain, making traditional tracking challenging without advanced forensic tools. Statistics from the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre indicate a 30% rise in crypto-related frauds in 2025, underscoring the urgency of enhanced monitoring. Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi, overseeing home affairs, noted in public statements that the operation dismantled a key node in this international web, preventing further outflows estimated at additional crores.

Frequently Asked Questions

What role did mule accounts play in the Gujarat cybercrime cryptocurrency laundering network?

Mule accounts are bank accounts, often held by unwitting or complicit individuals, used to receive and forward illegal funds before conversion to cryptocurrency. In this case, approximately 100 such accounts across Gujarat districts funneled ₹200 crore from 386 fraud cases into USDT for transfer to Pakistan and Dubai, allowing criminals to layer transactions and evade detection.

How can individuals in Gujarat avoid falling victim to crypto investment scams like those in the network?

To protect yourself from crypto scams, always verify investment opportunities through official channels and avoid unsolicited offers on social media or apps like Telegram. Report any suspicious activity immediately to the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal, and remember that legitimate crypto platforms never guarantee quick high returns without risks—educate yourself on red flags like demands for additional fees to withdraw funds.

Key Takeaways

• Syndicate Scale: The network laundered ₹200 crore using 100 mule accounts and crypto, linked to 386 cases nationwide, demonstrating the vast reach of organized cyber fraud in India.
• Arrest Impact: Chetan Gangani’s detention exposed direct ties to Pakistan wallets holding ₹29 crore, with investigations revealing seven-layer money trails to Dubai operations.
• Prevention Insight: Authorities recommend vigilance against USDT-based scams; report via cybercrime.gov.in and avoid unverified apps to safeguard personal finances in the rising crypto threat landscape.

Conclusion

The exposure of Gujarat cybercrime cryptocurrency laundering through Chetan Gangani’s arrest marks a critical step in combating cross-border financial crimes using digital assets like USDT. This ₹200 crore network, spanning multiple districts and tied to Surat crypto money laundering schemes, highlights the evolving tactics of fraudsters preying on unsuspecting victims via mule accounts and anonymous wallets. As investigations deepen into hundreds of related cases, enhanced regulatory measures and public awareness will be essential to curb these threats. Stay informed and proactive to navigate the digital economy securely, ensuring a safer future for cryptocurrency adoption in India.

Surat man Chetan Gangani’s arrest exposes a ₹200 crore Gujarat cybercrime network laundering money via crypto from India to Pakistan and Dubai.

In a major breakthrough, India’s state Gujarat’s CID Crime has unearthed a sprawling cross-border cybercrime network that laundered crores of rupees to Pakistan-based cryptocurrency wallets through a maze of “mule” bank accounts and digital assets.

The most recent arrest is that of Chetan Gangani, a resident of Surat, who is accused of helping transfer ₹10 crore through his BitGet crypto account to a wallet linked to Pakistan. His arrest has revealed how fraudsters in India are now using cryptocurrency to hide money trails and send funds out of the country.

Surat man’s arrest unravels money trail to Pakistan

According to police, Gangani’s arrest is part of a larger investigation into a cybercrime syndicate that operated across Gujarat, including Morbi, Surendranagar, Surat, and Amreli districts. Investigators said Gangani had direct links with six individuals arrested on November 3, who allegedly helped route ₹200 crore to Dubai-based cybercriminals using nearly 100 mule bank accounts.

A mule account, officials explained, is a bank account used—often by unsuspecting individuals—to receive, transfer, or launder illegal funds. Gangani, however, is believed to have knowingly assisted the gang by converting ₹10 crore into cryptocurrency (USDT) and transferring it to a Pakistan-based crypto wallet through his BitGet account over four months.

“The Pakistan-based wallet had about ₹29 crore in total, of which ₹10 crore originated from Gujarat. Gangani received a 0.10% commission on every USDT transaction,” police sources confirmed.

Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi, who also handles the Home portfolio, took to X on Saturday to announce the crackdown:

“In a major breakthrough, the Gujarat Cyber Crime Center of Excellence has dismantled a large-scale ‘Mule Account’ network operating across multiple districts, Morbi, Surendranagar, Surat, and Savarkundla, with direct financial links traced to Pakistan.”

He added that the cybercrime team “meticulously tracked the money trail through seven layers, from initial Indian accounts to cryptocurrency (USDT) transactions.”

According to Sanghavi, investigators found that ₹10 crore had been transferred to a Pakistani Binance USDT account, which had cumulatively received over ₹25 crore from Indian sources. “This gang was one of the major contributors,” he said.

386 cases linked to the network

The six individuals previously arrested are accused of providing 100 mule accounts that were used in 386 separate cybercrime cases across India. These include digital arrest scams, task frauds, investment frauds, online loan scams, and part-time job scams.

Rising crypto scams across Gujarat: A pattern emerges

The CID’s recent findings have brought to light how cryptocurrency is increasingly being used not just for money laundering but also in a growing number of scams targeting people across Gujarat.

On October 28, the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of the Ahmedabad Police filed a case against four men from Nagpur for cheating a local businessman of ₹2.05 crore in the name of a fake cryptocurrency investment.

The victim, Bunty Kanaiyalal Sangtani, who owns a readymade garment shop in Nana Chiloda, was promised high monthly returns by a company called Doxy, which claimed to trade in USDT. Believing the offer to be genuine, he invested a large amount, only to later realize it was a scam. The accused — Jay Balram Kakwani, Namdev Rajkumar Mirani, Nikhil Tejram Tawale, and Sanjay Hariram Hemrajani — are said to have planned the entire fraud carefully and gained Sangtani’s trust before duping him.

Just a couple of weeks earlier, on October 10, a 51-year-old man from Gandhidham, originally from Pune, lost ₹56.47 lakh in another crypto scam that operated through the Telegram app.

The victim, Kishor Nargundkar, was added to a group named Conforge Finance by a woman called Deepa, who convinced him that he could earn huge profits through trading. Over the next few months, he made 38 separate transactions between June 25 and September 8, sending a total of ₹56.47 lakh to the fraudsters.

The scammers later imposed bogus charges like a ₹10.65 lakh penalty for violating trading rules and a ₹4 lakh withdrawal tax—and even displayed fake profits of ₹61 lakh in his account. When Nargundkar refused to pay an additional ₹13 lakh “release fee,” he realized the scam and approached Kutch East Cyber Crime Police.

Police have named Deepa, Anubhav Goyal, and Ashutosh Kumar, along with Conforge Finance and Coinbase, in the case, under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (Indian Penal Code).

On October 8, yet another shocking case came to light from Rajkot. Hardik Umraniya, a 35-year-old medical representative, lost ₹31.5 lakh after falling for a fake USDT investment scam.

It all started when Hardik accepted a friend request from a stranger on Facebook. The two started chatting, and after a few friendly exchanges, the person brought up an investment plan promising big and quick returns through cryptocurrency.

To test if it was real, Hardik sent ₹10,000. A few days later, he got back ₹12,500, which made him believe the offer was genuine. Convinced, he started putting in more money. Within just 11 days — between July 20 and July 31, 2025, he ended up transferring ₹31.5 lakh in 13 transactions to the bank accounts the fraudsters had shared.

When he later attempted to withdraw his funds, the fraudsters demanded a “security verification fee” of ₹15,000. That was when he realized he had been duped and filed a complaint with the Rajkot Cybercrime Police.

Authorities warn of growing cross-border crypto crimes

The series of cases underline a troubling trend of cross-border cryptocurrency crimes involving India-based victims and global cyber syndicates operating via encrypted apps and digital currencies like USDT (Tether).

Officials said the Gujarat CID’s recent crackdown is only “the tip of the iceberg” as investigations continue into hundreds of linked bank accounts and crypto wallets connected to scams targeting Indians nationwide.

Authorities have urged citizens to stay vigilant, avoid unsolicited investment offers on social media or Telegram, and immediately report suspicious activity to the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (cybercrime.gov.in).

In short, from big money-laundering cases linked to Pakistan to smaller scams that have cheated ordinary people in Gujarat, crypto has become the new tool for fraudsters. Digital currency is now being used to move and hide money in ways that make it harder for the police to track. Investigators are working round the clock to follow the money trail and stay ahead of these fast-evolving crimes.

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