Gurugram Raid Unmasks Fake Recruitment Firm Tied to 85 Cybercrime Cases Across India
Prime Accused Muneer Khan Arrested; Probe Widens to Locate Associates and Trace Laundered Funds
NEW DELHI (India CSR) – In a significant breakthrough against cyber-enabled fraud, Gurugram Police arrested a 33-year-old man allegedly operating a bogus manpower recruitment company from the city’s IT Park, a front that investigators say was used to launder proceeds from cybercrime cases reported across the country.
The accused, Muneer Khan, who also went by the alias Sahil Sharma, has been directly linked to at least 85 cybercrime complaints filed nationwide, with fraudulent transactions amounting to lakhs of rupees. Police believe the number could be higher as investigations continue.
Complaint Leads to Larger Scam Trail
The case originated from a theft complaint filed on May 22, when a victim reported that their stolen iPhone was linked to their bank account. On May 26, after fraudsters allegedly obtained a duplicate SIM card, the complainant began receiving alerts of nine unauthorised UPI transactions totaling Rs. 3.98 lakh.
Police investigation found that Rs. 1 lakh from the defrauded amount had been transferred to a bank account in Telangana. From there, the money was routed to another account registered under the name Meraaki Manpower Services Private Limited—a company that, according to KYC records, no longer operated from its registered address.
Surveillance Operation Leads to Arrest
Persistent tracking and surveillance eventually pinpointed the company’s operations to Gurugram’s IT Park, leading to the arrest of Khan, a resident of Asoti village in Haryana’s Palwal district.
Police sources revealed that Khan, a Class 12 graduate, has a criminal history, including a previous arrest in a rape case in Uttam Nagar, Delhi, for which he spent over four years in judicial custody.
Bogus Company Set Up to Launder Cybercrime Funds
According to officials, Khan co-founded the fraudulent manpower agency with associates identified as Shubham, Mukim, and Munjir. Their modus operandi involved opening multiple current accounts in the company’s name and using them to launder illicit gains from various cyber frauds.
“These accounts were not linked to legitimate recruitment activities. Instead, they were used as transit points for large sums siphoned off through online scams,” an officer involved in the case said.
Massive Recovery During Raid
During the raid at the Gurugram office, police seized:
- 200 cheques from four different banks
- Four debit cards linked to suspected fraud accounts
- Transaction records pointing to nationwide victims
Data obtained from the National Cybercrime Reporting Portal (NCRP) connected the company’s accounts to 85 distinct cybercrime complaints, spread across multiple states.
Officials say the total value of these fraudulent transactions is still being calculated, but preliminary estimates suggest the figure could be in the multi-crore range.
Hunt for Associates Underway
Efforts are now on to track down Khan’s accomplices. “We are conducting raids in multiple locations and coordinating with cybercrime units in other states to gather additional evidence,” a senior officer said.
The investigation is also focusing on the source of the stolen identities used to open fake accounts and on mapping the money trail to determine whether the funds were moved abroad.
A Growing Pattern in Cybercrime Laundering
Cybercrime experts point out that fake recruitment firms have become a convenient vehicle for fraud syndicates to launder stolen funds. Such companies present a veneer of legitimacy, making it easier to route large sums through bank accounts without raising immediate suspicion.
“This case underscores the need for stronger KYC compliance and bank monitoring systems, especially for shell entities operating in high-volume transaction sectors,” a cybercrime analyst told this reporter.
Police Appeal for Victim Cooperation
Authorities have urged victims who suspect they may have been defrauded via transactions linked to Meraaki Manpower Services Pvt. Ltd. to come forward. Police believe more victims could emerge as they continue analysing transaction logs and cross-referencing them with national complaint databases.
“We are committed to unearthing the entire network and ensuring every person involved in this organised fraud faces the law,” the Gurugram Police spokesperson said.
Implications for Cybercrime Policing
The arrest of Khan adds to a growing list of cases highlighting how interstate coordination and real-time financial tracking are becoming critical tools in cybercrime investigations. With scams evolving rapidly, officials say they are investing in AI-based fraud detection systems and increasing training for cyber units across India.
As the search for Khan’s partners intensifies, the case is expected to reveal more about the shadow economy of cybercrime in India—an underground network where stolen funds are disguised as legitimate business transactions before being withdrawn or moved to offshore accounts.
