The Gujarat Cyber Centre of Excellence (CCoE) has busted an international cyber-slavery and human trafficking network with the arrest of its alleged kingpin, Nilesh Purohit alias Neel, also known as “The Ghost.” Five of his associates, including a couple, have also been taken into custody. The syndicate, operating from Southeast Asian countries, targeted Indian citizens, including many from Gujarat, by luring them with fraudulent job offers.
Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghvi, who holds the Home portfolio, said the investigation revealed that Purohit headed a global syndicate with more than 126 sub-agents. “He had links with agents in Pakistan and connections with 100 companies across several countries that supplied manpower to cyber-fraud centres in Southeast Asia,” Mr. Sanghvi said.
Purohit was detained in Gandhinagar while attempting to flee the country. His associates, Hitesh Somaiya and Sonal Phaldu, were arrested along with Bhavdeep Jadeja and Hardeep Jadeja. Sonal’s husband, Sanjay, was also taken into custody.
According to the Deputy Chief Minister, Purohit is connected to the trafficking of more than 500 people from India, Sri Lanka, the Philippines, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Nigeria, Egypt, Cameroon, Benin and Tunisia to Myanmar, Cambodia, Vietnam and Thailand. Victims were lured through social media advertisements promising high-paying overseas data-entry jobs.
