NEW DELHI, April 12: In a landmark operation, Maharashtra Police’s cyber wing, in coordination with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), has successfully rescued more than 60 Indian nationals who were victims of a horrific cyber slavery racket operating out of Myanmar. The victims were enticed by fraudulent job offers overseas but were instead trafficked, tortured, and forced to commit cyber fraud from guarded compounds controlled by armed rebel groups.
This operation has been described as one of the largest ever undertaken by Maharashtra Cyber in such cases. The victims were approached through social media platforms and offered seemingly lucrative jobs in Thailand and other East Asian countries. The agents facilitated their travel, arranging passports and tickets, and sent them to Thailand on tourist visas. Upon arrival, the victims were smuggled into Myanmar via river routes and ended up in rebel-held zones such as Miawadi, where they were held under strict surveillance by armed guards, some of whom were equipped with AK-47 rifles.
Once inside these compounds, the victims were forced to engage in sophisticated cyber crimes including digital arrest scams and fake investment schemes. Those who tried to resist were subjected to severe physical torture. In some instances, nails were pulled out, threats of organ removal were issued, and passports were confiscated to prevent escape. The perpetrators ran a highly organised operation, deceiving and exploiting the victims under the pretense of employment.
Additional Director General of Police (Maharashtra Cyber), Yashasvi Yadav, confirmed that the accused included facilitators who enabled the trafficking of the victims under the guise of job offers. Among the five individuals arrested were actor Manish Grey, also known as Maddy, who is a familiar face in television and web series and allegedly played a significant role in recruiting job-seekers. Others arrested include Taisan alias Aaditya Ravi Chandran, Rupnarayan Ramdhar Gupta, Jensi Rani D, and Talaniti Nulaxi, a Chinese-Kazakhstani national reportedly planning to establish a cybercrime unit in India. Four of the suspects were apprehended by Goa Police, while the main accused was captured in Mumbai by Maharashtra Police.
The victims’ testimonies revealed harrowing experiences. One individual, Satish, said he was promised a job as a restaurant manager in Thailand, but after landing, he was sold for $5,000 near the Myanmar border. His passport was taken, and he was forced into cyber scams. Another victim, Monukumar Sharma from Naigaon in Palghar district, shared that even minor acts like sitting with crossed legs resulted in salary cuts and punishments. Those who objected were brutally beaten.
Three First Information Reports (FIRs) have been registered in connection with the case. Authorities have stated that while some victims may be named as accused if found complicit in cyber frauds, the primary focus remains on dismantling the network of fraudulent job agencies and ensuring justice for the trafficked individuals. Investigations are ongoing to identify the full extent of the operation and all those involved.
