Overview

• The ED’s Surat sub-zonal office detained Makbul Abdul Rehman Doctor, Kaashif Makbul Doctor, Mahesh Mafatlal Desai and Om Rajendra Pandya under the PMLA.
• Investigators allege the network used digital arrests, fake legal notices impersonating the Supreme Court and the ED, and forex trading pitches to extort victims.
• Proceeds exceeding Rs 100 crore were allegedly routed through bank accounts opened in the names of associates and employees using pre-activated SIM cards.
• The agency says the funds were laundered via hawala channels and converted into cryptocurrency, including USDT, to evade scrutiny.
• To counter fake summons circulating in such scams, the ED will issue QR-coded notices with two-step verification, while its wider drive has attached over Rs 8,500 crore and flagged more than Rs 28,000 crore in suspected proceeds.