Punjab Police uncover fake mining portal, arrest key accused, seize critical data

In a significant breakthrough, the state cyber crime division has arrested the main accused involved in running a fraudulent website that impersonated the Punjab Government's mining department.

The accused, identified as Gaurav Kumar, was apprehended for cloning the official mining portal of the Punjab Government, said Punjab DGP Gaurav Yadav in a post on X.

The accused, in collusion with a mining businessman, issued fraudulent permits for illegal mining, resulting in a loss of Rs 40-50 lakh. The duo generated over 2,000 fake receipts using QR codes and barcodes, effectively bypassing the security checks, said the DGP.

He said the modus operandi involved the creation of fake mining forms, with the accused spoofing the legitimate website. This allowed vehicles involved in illegal mining to operate without detection, further exacerbating the state's financial losses.

An FIR has been registered in connection with the case, and investigations are ongoing to uncover the full extent of the criminal network, Yadav said.

A backup of the fraudulent website has been recovered, along with data detailing fake receipts, images of vehicles, and information on the sources and destinations of mined material. The computer systems used to perpetrate the offence have also been seized, the DGP added.