CBI arrests two key accused in ‘cyber-slavery’ scam case

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The CBI said the scam compounds are operated by transnational cybercrime syndicates and serve as hubs for large-scale cyber-enabled financial frauds targeting victims across multiple countries. | Photo Credit: The Hindu

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested two persons in connection with a human trafficking network that lured Indian nationals to scam compounds operating in Southeast Asian countries, including Myanmar and Cambodia, on the pretext of lucrative employment opportunities.

The accused have been identified as Nipender Chaudhary and Nilesh Narpatsinh Purohit. The agency said the two were part of a human trafficking racket.

The CBI alleged that Nipender arranged logistics for Indian nationals to be taken to Myanmar through Thailand. “Victims were transported from Bangkok to Mae Sot before being illegally moved across the Thailand-Myanmar border into scam compounds operating in Myanmar,” said the agency.

The second accused allegedly played a “central role” in managing a network of sub-agents across India on behalf of scam compound operators. He operated from an office within a scam compound near the Thailand-Myanmar border and received payments in cryptocurrency from operators of the illegal establishments.

The CBI said the scam compounds are run by transnational cybercrime syndicates and serve as hubs for large-scale cyber-enabled financial frauds targeting victims across multiple countries. “Indian nationals trafficked to these facilities were allegedly coerced into participating in illegal cybercrime activities. Their freedom of movement was restricted, passports were confiscated, and several victims reportedly faced physical and psychological abuse. In many cases, families were compelled to pay substantial sums of money to secure the release of their relatives,” it said.

Earlier, in May 2026, the CBI conducted searches at eight locations across four States in connection with the same case and arrested another accused involved in the trafficking n