Indian authorities recovered Rs. 14 lakh (approximately $16,500) along with 52 laptops containing incriminating digital evidence when they arrested Vikas Kumar Nimar, a key cybercrime kingpin and fugitive who had evaded capture for two months while continuing to operate an illegal call center defrauding American citizens.
The arrest by India’s Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) marks the latest disruption in Operation Chakra, a coordinated international crackdown targeting transnational tech support scam networks that have stolen more than $40 million from victims in the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, and European Union countries.
The CBI registered the case against Nimar on September 24, 2024, conducting extensive searches at multiple locations in September that dismantled four illegal call centers operated by the accused in Pune, Hyderabad, and Visakhapatnam. Nimar, who was instrumental in establishing and operating the illegal call center VC Informetrix Pvt. Ltd at Pune and Visakhapatnam, went into hiding following the initial raids.
Read: CBI’s Coordinated Strike Takes Down Transnational Cybercrime Network in India
Discovery of Fifth Call Center Operation
The CBI obtained an arrest warrant from the Chief Judicial Magistrate Court in Pune and tracked Nimar to his residential premises in Lucknow. Searches conducted during the November 20, 2025, arrest led to recovery of cash, mobile phones, and incriminating documents pertaining to the crimes.
During search operations, investigators discovered Nimar had established another illegal call center in Lucknow continuing to target US nationals despite being a fugitive. The CBI immediately dismantled this fifth operation, seizing 52 laptops containing digital evidence used in the cybercrime network’s operations.
The agency said investigations continue with efforts to identify additional accomplices and trace stolen funds through cryptocurrency channels.
Pattern of Tech Support Scams
The cybercrime networks dismantled through Operation Chakra employ social engineering tactics to defraud victims. Criminals contact targets claiming their bank accounts have been compromised, exploiting fear of financial loss to manipulate victims into taking immediate action.
Under the guise of providing technical assistance, fraudsters gain remote access to victims’ computers and convince them to transfer money into cryptocurrency wallets they control. The operations targeted US nationals from 2023 to 2025, with one network alone defrauding American citizens of more than $40 million through these tactics.
Read: Indo-U.S. Agencies Dismantle Cybercrime Network Targeting U.S. Nationals
The illegal call centers operate under legitimate-sounding company names to establish credibility. Previous raids uncovered operations running as “M/s Digipaks The Future of Digital” in Amritsar, “FirstIdea” in Delhi’s Special Economic Zone, and VC Informetrix Pvt. Ltd in Pune and Visakhapatnam.
Operation Chakra represents extensive collaboration between Indian authorities and international law enforcement agencies. The CBI works closely with INTERPOL, the US Federal Bureau of Investigation, the UK’s National Crime Agency, Homeland Security Investigations, and private sector partners including Microsoft Corporation.
Intelligence sharing from US authorities triggered the earlier investigation that led to raids uncovering the large-scale illegal call center in Amritsar. That operation intercepted 34 individuals engaged in active fraud, seizing 85 hard drives, 16 laptops, and 44 mobile phones loaded with incriminating digital evidence.
Operation Chakra-III’s September raids last year across Mumbai, Kolkata, Pune, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, and Visakhapatnam resulted in 26 arrests and seizure of 57 gold bars, Rs. 60 lakh in cash, 951 electronic devices, and three luxury vehicles. The coordinated strikes targeted call centers where over 170 individuals engaged in various forms of online fraud primarily targeting US citizens.
Cryptocurrency Laundering Networks
The networks rely heavily on cryptocurrency to launder stolen funds, presenting challenges for traditional financial crime investigations. Virtual asset transactions allow criminals to quickly move funds across borders with perceived anonymity, complicating recovery efforts.
One investigation revealed that key suspect Vishnu Rathi’s group had scammed a US citizen into transferring nearly half a million dollars into cryptocurrency wallets under the guise of tech support services. The victim, led to believe her bank account was compromised, unknowingly handed control to criminals who manipulated her into making the large transfer.
The CBI coordinates with INTERPOL and foreign law enforcement bodies to follow money trails through virtual asset transactions, working to dismantle associated laundering networks alongside the operational infrastructure.
The CBI reiterated its commitment to rapidly identifying and taking action against organized technology-enabled crime networks. Authorities arrested individuals face charges under India’s Information Technology Act of 2000 and the BNSS Act of 2023.
Previous Operation Chakra actions included the August arrest of a fugitive kingpin at Delhi’s international airport while attempting to flee to Kathmandu, Nepal. Immigration officers intercepted the suspect based on CBI intelligence, preventing escape through a route previously exploited by wanted fugitives.
The multi-phase operation demonstrates India’s strengthening cybersecurity posture through real-time intelligence sharing with global counterparts, moving beyond domestic law enforcement to tackle cybercriminals exploiting technological vulnerabilities across borders.
