Junagadh: In a shocking case of insider-style cybercrime, Gujarat Police have arrested Vishal Vanand for hacking the official Gmail ID of the Junagadh Range Cyber Police Station and attempting to defraud banks out of over ₹74 lakh. Vanand, who had previously assisted Ahmedabad Police as a cybercrime volunteer, used his deep technical knowledge to impersonate a police officer and send forged emails to banks.
The accused, posing as PSI G.B. Sisodia, sent official-looking emails to at least four different banks, requesting the unfreezing of accounts previously locked due to fraud investigations. The forged emails used police-style language, file references, and visual formatting similar to official letterheads, leading banks to initially trust the authenticity.
The total sum targeted across the four bank accounts was approximately ₹74,09,774. Fortunately, due to discrepancies in the email headers and formatting, some banks grew suspicious and contacted Junagadh Cyber Police directly for verification, exposing the fraud attempt.
Vanand, in a calculated move to avoid detection, sent the emails using a Wi-Fi hotspot belonging to an illiterate laborer in Mumbai. The hotspot was unknowingly left on, and Vanand connected it to his laptop to transmit the forged emails, intending to mislead IP tracking efforts. However, forensic investigation eventually traced the digital footprint back to Vanand.
Once considered an ally to law enforcement, Vanand had provided technical assistance in cybercrime cases across Ahmedabad. His deep knowledge of email systems, password recovery methods, and multi-factor authentication (MFA) bypass techniques made him a powerful asset—turned dangerous criminal. Police officials stated that Vanand hacked into the email system by resetting credentials, bypassing MFA, and gaining full administrative access. He then crafted emails to banks under the guise of legitimate police orders to release frozen funds.
After confirming the source of the breach, Junagadh Cyber Police coordinated with Ahmedabad authorities and arrested Vanand at his residence. He was brought to Junagadh for questioning, where he confessed to the crime and explained how he orchestrated the breach.
This incident underscores the growing complexity of cybercrime in India and the urgent need for enhanced digital security, even within law enforcement agencies. The Gujarat government has reaffirmed its commitment to a zero-tolerance policy on cyber offenses and praised the swift action of the cybercrime units involved.