ED raids 8 premises in Chandigarh, Punjab, MP in tech-support fraud case
Synopsis
The ED has busted an alleged transnational tech-support fraud ring operating out of Mohali, with suspects reportedly impersonating Apple and Microsoft support to dupe US and Canadian victims. The money trail — spanning PayPal, Bitcoin, hawala, and US-based shell companies — points to a sophisticated laundering network that investigators are now unravelling under PMLA.
Key Takeaways
The ED, Chandigarh Zonal Office searched eight premises in Chandigarh , Mohali , Punjab , and Madhya Pradesh under PMLA, 2002 .
Key accused include Vijay Raj Kapuria , Varinder Raj , and Infimum Enterprises LLP .
The alleged fraud targeted customers in the US and Canada through fake Apple and Microsoft tech-support pop-ups and calls.
Proceeds were laundered via PayPal , Bitcoin , hawala , and US-based shell entities including RHL Operating Solutions and RG Security Solutions LLC .
Searches yielded approximately ₹20 lakh in unaccounted cash; bank balances of roughly ₹50 lakh were frozen.
Punjab Police have already filed a charge-sheet against the accused.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED), Chandigarh Zonal Office, last week conducted search operations at eight premises spread across Chandigarh, Mohali, Punjab, and Madhya Pradesh under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, targeting an alleged transnational tech-support fraud operation that reportedly victimised customers in the United States and Canada. The searches led to the seizure of unaccounted cash of approximately ₹20 lakh and the freezing of bank balances worth roughly ₹50 lakh.
Background and Trigger
The ED's action was initiated on the basis of a First Information Report (FIR) registered by Police Station Sohana in Mohali, Punjab, under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), 1860 and the Information Technology Act, 2000. The FIR pertains to the alleged operation of a fraudulent call centre at Plot No. 29, Emaar, Sector 108, Mohali. Punjab Police have also filed a charge-sheet against the accused in the matter.
How the Alleged Fraud Operated
According to the ED, the accused — identified as Vijay Raj Kapuria, Varinder Raj, Infimum Enterprises LLP, and associated individuals and entities — allegedly ran the call centre in connivance with overseas associates. Deceptive pop-ups and links were used to falsely indicate technical problems on victims' computers, displaying toll-free numbers connected to the Mohali-based centre.
Operators reportedly used pre-designed scripts to persuade victims to grant remote access to their systems and make payments for unnecessary or fictitious services, impersonating Apple or Microsoft technical support representatives.
Money Trail: Crypto, Hawala, and Shell Entities
Funds extracted from victims were allegedly routed through multiple channels including PayPal, Stripe, conventional banking, Bitcoin, other cryptocurrencies, and hawala networks. The proceeds were then transferred through accounts of overseas entities — predominantly US-based — including RHL Operating Solutions and RG Security Solutions LLC, according to the ED.
Investigation under PMLA further revealed that the bank account of Infimum Enterprises LLP received foreign remittances from several overseas entities suspected to be dummy and shell companies.
What the Searches Yielded
The raids resulted in the seizure of unaccounted cash of approximately ₹20 lakh, along with incriminating documents and electronic devices. Bank balances of approximately ₹50 lakh were also frozen, the ED said in a statement.
What Comes Next
With a charge-sheet already filed by Punjab Police and the PMLA investigation now in an advanced stage, formal arrests and asset attachment proceedings could follow. The case reflects a broader ED push against India-based call centres allegedly defrauding foreign nationals — a pattern that investigators have flagged as a growing transnational financial crime concern.
Point of View
Which complicates both tracing and international legal cooperation. Unless the charge-sheet translates into convictions with dissuasive penalties, such operations will simply relocate and reboot.
NationPress
24 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What prompted the ED to raid premises in Chandigarh and Punjab?
The ED acted on an FIR filed by Police Station Sohana in Mohali under the IPC, 1860 and the IT Act, 2000, alleging the operation of a fraudulent call centre at Plot No. 29, Emaar, Sector 108, Mohali. The agency launched a parallel PMLA investigation to trace the money trail linked to the alleged fraud.
Who are the key accused in the tech-support fraud case?
The premises searched were linked to Vijay Raj Kapuria, Varinder Raj, Infimum Enterprises LLP, and other associated individuals and entities, according to the ED.
How did the alleged call-centre fraud work?
Operators allegedly used deceptive pop-ups and toll-free numbers to convince victims in the US and Canada that their devices had technical problems, then impersonated Apple or Microsoft support staff. Victims were induced to grant remote system access and pay for fictitious services.
How was the money laundered?
Funds from victims were allegedly routed through PayPal, Stripe, banking channels, Bitcoin, other cryptocurrencies, and hawala. The proceeds were then transferred through US-based entities suspected to be shell companies, including RHL Operating Solutions and RG Security Solutions LLC.
What was seized during the ED searches?
The searches resulted in the seizure of approximately ₹20 lakh in unaccounted cash, along with incriminating documents and electronic devices. Bank balances of approximately ₹50 lakh were also frozen.
