Gujarat cyber fraud: Gang posed as guru, duped 76-year-old of ₹19.60 lakh; 3 held
Synopsis
A cyber fraud gang that posed as an Aghori baba and a guru to con a 76-year-old Gujarat man out of ₹19.60 lakh has had three more members arrested — bringing total arrests to eight — after police tracked the suspects through social media trails, bank records, and tip-offs from local shopkeepers and autorickshaw drivers in Virpur.
Key Takeaways
Three more accused — Mahboob Sheikh (23) , Sarfaraz Pathan (39) , and Sahilmiya Sheikh (23) — were arrested from Virpur, Mahisagar district on or around 26 October .
A 76-year-old man in Valsad was allegedly cheated of ₹19,60,500 by a gang posing as a spiritual guru and an Aghori baba on 29 April .
Police had previously arrested five accused ; six others had been declared wanted, of whom three are now in custody.
The case is registered under Sections 318(4) and 61(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Section 66(D) of the Information Technology Act .
Police advised the public to call the national cybercrime helpline 1930 to report suspicious calls or fraud.
Three more wanted accused have been arrested in a cyber fraud case in Valsad, Gujarat, in which a 76-year-old man was allegedly cheated of more than ₹19.60 lakh by a gang that posed as an Aghori baba and a guru, promising divine blessings and the doubling of money, the Valsad district police said on 30 October.
How the Fraud Was Carried Out
According to the police, the fraud took place on 29 April, when unidentified persons contacted the elderly complainant through the internet, falsely presenting themselves as an Aghori baba and a spiritual guru. They allegedly promised that the victim would receive the blessings of a goddess and that money he had tied up would be doubled. The accused then shared details of multiple bank accounts and persuaded him to transfer funds, allegedly swindling him of ₹19,60,500 in total.
Who Was Arrested and Where
The three newly arrested accused have been identified as Mahboob Sheikh (23), Sarfaraz Pathan (39), and Sahilmiya Sheikh (23). All three were arrested from Virpur in Mahisagar district following sustained investigation by the Valsad Cyber Crime Police Station. Pathan works as a driver and lives near the water tank in the Timba Fali area of Virpur; Sahilmiya Sheikh runs a paan stall near Desai CM High School in the same town; and Mahboob Sheikh is employed and resides opposite Yogeshwar Park Society in Virpur.
Investigative Trail That Led to Arrests
Police had earlier arrested five accused in the case, while six others were declared wanted. The cyber crime team traced the absconders by analysing social media accounts, bank transactions, and call detail records of the suspects' relatives, friends, and associates, in addition to gathering human intelligence on the ground. On 26 October, Police Sub-Inspector D.S. Patel received a tip-off that Mahboob Sheikh had been spotted near Dev Chowk in Balasinor. A surveillance team was deployed and sought assistance from local shopkeepers, autorickshaw drivers, and informers before making the arrest. Questioning Mahboob subsequently led officers to Pathan and Sahilmiya Sheikh, who were also taken into custody from Virpur.
Legal Sections Invoked
A case was registered at the Valsad Cyber Crime Police Station under Sections 318(4) and 61(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Section 66(D) of the Information Technology Act. Further interrogation of the three newly arrested accused is underway.
Police Advisory to the Public
In an accompanying advisory, the police warned citizens against claims of doubling money through tantric rituals, describing such promises as fraudulent. Residents were urged not to transfer money or share personal information with unknown callers and to disconnect suspicious calls immediately. Victims of cyber fraud or those receiving suspicious calls can contact the national cybercrime helpline at 1930 or approach the nearest police station.
With eight of the eleven accused now in custody, investigators are expected to pursue the remaining wanted persons in the weeks ahead.
Point of View
Suggesting that ground-level intelligence remains indispensable even in cyber cases. With eight of eleven accused now arrested, the case also underscores that inter-district coordination between Gujarat's cyber cells is improving. The broader concern is that 'tantric doubling' scams, despite repeated public advisories, continue to find victims — pointing to a persistent gap between awareness campaigns and behavioural change at the grassroots.
NationPress
30 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How was the 76-year-old man in Valsad defrauded?
Unidentified persons contacted the victim through the internet on 29 April, posing as an Aghori baba and a guru. They promised divine blessings and the doubling of his money, then persuaded him to transfer funds into multiple bank accounts, cheating him of ₹19,60,500 in total.
Who are the three newly arrested accused in the Valsad cyber fraud case?
The three accused are Mahboob Sheikh (23), Sarfaraz Pathan (39), and Sahilmiya Sheikh (23), all residents of Virpur in Mahisagar district, Gujarat. They were arrested following a tip-off and subsequent surveillance operations by the Valsad Cyber Crime Police Station.
What legal charges have been filed in the case?
The case is registered under Sections 318(4) and 61(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Section 66(D) of the Information Technology Act at the Valsad Cyber Crime Police Station.
How many accused have been arrested in total in this case?
Eight accused have been arrested in total — five in an earlier phase and three more on or around 26 October. Six accused had been declared wanted, of whom three remain at large.
What should people do if they receive suspicious calls promising money-doubling rituals?
Police advise people to disconnect suspicious calls immediately and not to transfer money or share personal details with unknown callers. Victims or those receiving such calls can contact the national cybercrime helpline at 1930 or report the matter at the nearest police station.
