Hyderabad police arrest 37 cybercrime accused in January
HYDERABAD: The Hyderabad City Cyber Crime Police intensified enforcement against cyber frauds, arresting 37 accused from seven states during January 2026. The arrests led to the detection of 26 major cases, Additional Commissioner of Police (Crimes & SIT) M. Srinivasulu said on February 8.
A total of 117 first information reports (FIRs) were registered at the Cyber Crime Police Station during the month. An analysis of the accused showed the following modus operandi:
Investment frauds: 15 cases
“Digital arrest” scams: 2 cases
Social media offences (CSAM–Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act): 4 cases
Business, gaming and job frauds: 5 cases
Police action enabled the refund of ₹71,91,371 to victims.
₹65 crore transactions, devices seized
The accused were linked to 86 cases across the country. Scrutiny of their bank accounts revealed suspicious transactions worth about ₹65 crore. Police seized 26 mobile phones, 79 SIM cards, 62 debit cards, 57 cheque books and other electronic items.
Matrimony investment fraud busted
In a key case, a woman accused posed as a UK-based engineer on a matrimony platform and lured a Hyderabad resident to invest in a fake crypto platform named Bakktcoin. The victim lost ₹11.2 lakh. Police arrested Geddavalasa Ravikiran and Chodipalli Gangaraju from Andhra Pradesh for supplying SIM cards to the accused.
Zonal cyber cells, C-MITRA results
Zonal cyber cells received 1,706 complaints in January. With intervention through C-MITRA, 315 FIRs were registered, 13 more accused were arrested and ₹10.6 lakh was refunded to victims.
Public advisory
Srinivasulu urged citizens to stay alert:
Do not transfer money based on WhatsApp or social media messages using fake profiles of senior officials.
Avoid schemes promising high returns on WhatsApp or Telegram; invest only through SEBI-recognised applications.
Do not click suspicious links or download APK files sent in the name of banks.
There is no legal concept of “digital arrest”; enforcement agencies do not make arrests over phone calls.
Victims should immediately call the 1930 helpline or lodge complaints at www.cybercrime.gov.in to improve chances of freezing funds.
