The Belagavi City Cyber Crime Police have successfully dismantled a sophisticated inter-state cybercrime network that allegedly defrauded citizens of crores of rupees under the guise of “Work From Home” opportunities and government loan schemes.
The investigation has led to the arrest of two primary suspects: Megha Maradolkar, a resident of Belagavi who was apprehended in Goa, and Hyderali Ghulamali Ujjainwala, a 67-year-old operative arrested in Mumbai.
The scam came to light in late February after a local resident, Manasi, filed a complaint. According to police reports, Megha Maradolakar befriended unsuspecting individuals, promising them lucrative remote work and assistance in securing government loans. Instead, she used their personal documentation to open bank accounts in their names without their knowledge of the criminal intent.
These accounts served as “mules” for transferring stolen funds. A search of Megha’s residence yielded evidence of 72 different bank accounts opened in the names of various innocent Belagavi citizens.
The Mumbai Connection
The investigation revealed a well-organized pipeline where Megha would courier bank kits and passbooks to Hyderali in Mumbai. Hyderali, along with his son and other accomplices(Idris Ali, Aziz Bora)—including Megha’s own daughter, Shivani —allegedly managed the distribution of these funds through a wider cyber-syndicate.
Massive Financial Impact
The scale of the operation is significant. Authorities have confirmed:
- Total Fraudulent Transactions: Over ₹1.27 Crore detected so far.
- Case Links: 47 of the seized accounts are tied to 144 separate cybercrime complaints filed across the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (NCRP).
Police Commendation
The successful operation was spearheaded by ACP B.S. Mantura and Inspector S.N. Gabi, under the direct supervision of the Belagavi Police Commissioner. The Commissioner has expressed high praise for the team’s meticulous work in tracking the money trail across state lines.
Both accused are currently in judicial custody as police continue to hunt for the remaining members of the syndicate. Citizens are urged to remain vigilant and never share personal documents or open bank accounts on behalf of third parties promising “guaranteed” jobs or loans.