ED conducts PMLA searches in Ahmedabad, Surat, Andhra Pradesh

Gandhinagar: Directorate of Enforcement (ED), Ahmedabad Zonal Office has conducted search operations under the provisions of Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002 at 10 locations in Ahmedabad, Surat and Andhra Pradesh in the matter of M/s Quality Fruit Traders and others on 23.05.2025. The case is based on one of the cybercrime i.e. digital arrests, where cybercriminals impersonate government officials to extort money.

One such case of “digital arrest” was registered by Cyber Crime Police Station, Ahmedabad
City against unknown persons under sections of IPC, 1860 and Information Technology Act, 2000 for defrauding the complainant for Rs. 1.15 Crore.

ED investigation revealed that the said amount of Rs 1.15 Crore was subsequently transferred
to bogus bank accounts maintained in the name of M/s Quality Fruit Traders and M/s Shivam
Charitable Trust. The money trail revealed that money was further immediately transferred out to multiple other bank accounts across India in the range of Rs 5-10 Lakh (approx.) each, through various modes such as RTGS, UPI & IMPS, which were either cash withdrawn or further transfer through IMPS to various parties.

Search operation resulted in the recovery and seizure of various incriminating digital records, substantial information about various Hawala operations& documents along with seizure of Rs 3 Lakh (approx.) in the form of bank balance. Further investigation is under progress. DeshGujarat