How a former banker executed Rs 16,180 crore bank scam

The Thane cyber police have apprehended a former banker, Kedar Dighe, along with two others, Sandeep Nakshe and Sandeep Bohra, for their involvement in a sophisticated money laundering operation.

The trio is accused of hacking into a payment gateway app and diverting funds to offshore accounts in Hong Kong, Singapore, and China through a hawala network.

According to cops, Dighe, who possesses extensive knowledge of banking procedures due to his previous role, utilised his expertise to manipulate the system. He diverted the stolen money into various accounts before channelling it abroad. The network of accounts not only spans across India but also extends to foreign destinations, raising concerns about the intricate nature of the operation.


The former banker played a pivotal role in forging documents, establishing a web of fake bank accounts crucial for routing the stolen money, cops claimed. Nakshe and Bohra, on the other hand, were instrumental in creating another fictitious firm. This entity was used to transfer funds from the hacked application to multiple accounts, aided by the use of falsified documents.

A police officer involved in the investigation stated, "During the investigation, their respective roles became apparent, leading to their arrests." The authorities suspect that this could be a part of a well-coordinated racket that the accused meticulously planned over an extended period before being apprehended.

The magnitude of the financial irregularities involved in this case has made the ongoing investigation exceptionally lengthy. The cybercrime police initiated the probe in June after an unidentified individual hacked into the software of the payment gateway company 'Safx Payout' and siphoned off Rs 25 crore. Subsequently, the Thane police's cyber cell took charge of the case, leading to the discovery of multiple fake partnership firms established for dubious transactions. The total transactions found in these accounts amounted to a staggering Rs 16,180 crore.