Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), under Operation Chakra-IV, has dismantled a cybercrime network that targeted German nationals since 2021. The accused, including Rahul Shaw, Shubham Sharma, and Rajeev Budhiraja, allegedly gained unauthorized remote access to victims’ computers and bank accounts by posing as tech support. They misled victims into transferring €646,032 to cryptocurrency wallets they controlled. Investigations led to extensive searches across Delhi, Kolkata, and Siliguri from February 14-17, 2025, revealing evidence of financial fraud involving virtual assets. Rahul Shaw was arrested in Siliguri, and incriminating documents, laptops, and mobile phones were seized. CBI also uncovered and dismantled an illegal call center in Darjeeling, recovering 24 hard disks containing digital evidence. The investigation continues in collaboration with foreign law enforcement to trace the proceeds of crime and broader network connections.
Central Bureau of Investigation
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CBI DISMANTLES A VIRTUAL ASSET SUPPORTED TRANSNATIONAL CYBER CRIME NETWORK IN OPERATION CHAKRA-IV
Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) as part of on-going OPERATION CHAKRA-IV has taken action to successfully dismantle a sophisticated virtual asset supported cybercrime network that has been targeting German nationals since 2021. This operation was executed in close coordination with the German authorities.
International Operations Division of CBI registered a case on 12.02.2025 against Rahul Shaw, Shubham Sharma, Rajeev Budhiraja and unknown others, under section 120-B read with sections 420, 467, 468 and 471 of Indian Penal Code as well as section 66D of Information Technology Act 2000 and launched the investigation.
During 2021-2022, the accused individuals allegedly conspired to target the German victims by gaining unauthorized remote access to the victim’s computer systems and bank accounts, under pretext of offering tech support services. They falsely informed the German based victims that their bank accounts had been compromised. Claiming that their funds were at risk, accused, allegedly, manipulated the victims into transferring Euro 646,032 to cryptocurrency wallets controlled by them.
Following registration of the case, CBI swiftly conducted extensive searches at multiple locations associated/linked to the accused persons, yielding substantial incriminating evidence. Searches conducted by CBI at six locations across Delhi, Kolkata and Siliguri from 14.02.2025 to 17.02.2025 have revealed that this transnational cyber-enabled financial crime network was channelling the proceeds of crime through virtual assets.
CBI has arrested Rahul Shaw from Siliguri, a key accused in the case and he is being produced before the Ld. Court of the Addl. Chief Judicial Magistrate-06, Rouse Avenue District Courts, New Delhi. During search conducted at his residential premises, 07 mobile phones, 01 laptop and incriminating documents pertaining to crime were recovered.
CBI also unearthed an illegal Call Centre being operated by the accused Rahul Shaw and other accused persons at Webel IT Park, Matigara, Darjeeling, West Bengal and dismantled the same. During search, 24 hard disks of computer systems used by the accused persons, containing incriminating digital evidence, were recovered from the said illegal Call Centre. Further operations are ongoing to identify the proceeds of crime.
Investigation into the broader network and on international leads are ongoing in close coordination with the foreign law enforcement agencies.
OPERATION CHAKRA-IV has been initiated by CBI to combat and dismantle organized cyber enabled financial crime network through a globally coordinated law enforcement response leveraging INTERPOL channels. The operation, coordinated with law enforcement agencies across multiple countries, underscores CBI’s commitment to combat and dismantle organised technology enabled crime networks.
