The Surat City Police have assisted 61 cyber fraud victims in reclaiming Rs 2.52 crore in the first half of 2026. Additionally, efforts to recover funds have resulted in court-ordered refunds totaling Rs 13.38 crore for 1,824 applicants. These actions underscore the increasing use of legal avenues to retrieve money lost in online financial scams.
Under the ‘Tera Tujhko Arpan’ initiative, 15 beneficiaries were symbolically handed refund cheques by Surat Police Commissioner Anupam Singh Gahlaut. The recoveries are linked to cyber fraud complaints filed between January 1 and June 30, as per the Surat City Police.
Following complaints reported via the National Cyber Crime Helpline 1930, the Surat City Cyber Crime Cell collaborated with banks in multiple states to freeze suspect accounts and kickstart the refund process. The Cyber Crime Cell, under the guidance of Police Commissioner Anupam Singh Gahlaut and Additional Police Commissioner (Crime) Karanraj Vaghela, worked in tandem with courts, Lok Adalats, and banks nationwide, overseen directly by Deputy Commissioner of Police (Cyber Cell) Bishakha Jain.
During the six-month period, the Surat City Police secured court orders through Lok Adalats to aid in the return of approximately Rs 13.38 crore to 1,824 applicants. Moreover, refund applications totaling around Rs 7 crore involving 1,690 applicants have been filed ahead of the Lok Adalat scheduled for July 11.
Upon receipt of court orders, the funds will be transferred to the beneficiaries’ bank accounts after completing the necessary procedures. The Surat City Police urged the public to promptly report cyber fraud, emphasizing that swift reporting enhances the chances of freezing fraudulent transactions before funds are withdrawn.
Citizens were cautioned against downloading unfamiliar applications or APK files from dubious links or messages posing as RTO challans. They were also warned against clicking on suspicious SMS or email links and advised to be wary of social media groups and advertisements promising abnormally high returns through online share market investments.
Officials encouraged victims of various cyber crimes, including sextortion, morphed photographs, nude video calls, and digital arrest scams, to report incidents promptly through the helpline or the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal.
