Overview The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has apprehended Dwibendu Moharana , a key figure in a cybercrime syndicate that targeted Japanese citizens through sophisticated “tech support scams”. This action is part of the ongoing ‘Operation Chakra-V’ , a broader initiative aimed at dismantling cybercriminal networks. Key Developments Arrest and Identification Dwibendu Moharana was intercepted at Bhubaneswar airport on October 30, 2025 , upon his return to India. He is accused of operating an illegal call centre involved in social engineering and deception. Background and Investigation Following coordinated searches on May 28, 2025 , at 19 locations across Delhi, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh , which led to the arrest of six operatives , Moharana absconded to the United Arab Emirates on May 29, 2025 . This occurred immediately after his call centre at Voip Connect Private Limited, Noida , was uncovered. Modus Operandi Investigations revealed that Mr. Moharana operated the illegal call centre that engaged in sophisticated social engineering and deception. His associates allegedly impersonated support personnel from multinational companies, deceiving Japanese victims into making payments under false pretences. Legal Proceedings Following his arrest, Mr. Moharana was brought to Delhi on a transit warrant and produced before a special court, which remanded him to CBI custody for three days . Current Status The agency has so far arrested seven individuals in the case and filed chargesheets against all of them. They are currently under judicial custody. International Cooperation “The operation, carried out in close cooperation with the National Police Agency of Japan and Microsoft Corporation , has significantly disrupted the syndicate’s operations,” the CBI said. Previous Arrests The searches carried out on May 28 had resulted in the arrest of six persons and the dismantling of two illegal call centres engaged in a sophisticated transnational tech support scam targeting Japanese citizens. Individuals Arrested Among the arrested persons are Ashu Singh from Delhi; Kapil Ghakhar from Panipat; Rohit Maurya from Ayodhya; and Shubham Jaiswal , Vivek Raj , and Adarsh Kumar from Varanasi. UPSC Relevance This news article is relevant to the UPSC Civil Services Exam , particularly under GS Paper 3 (Economy) , focusing on Cyber Security and GS Paper 2 (Governance) concerning Government Policies and Interventions . The case highlights the challenges of transnational cybercrime and the importance of international cooperation in combating such threats. Key Takeaways for UPSC Cyber Security: Understanding the nature of cybercrime, including tech support scams and social engineering. International Cooperation: Recognizing the role of international agencies like the National Police Agency of Japan and corporations like Microsoft in addressing cyber threats. Law Enforcement: Analyzing the CBI's role and effectiveness in investigating and prosecuting cybercriminals. Economic Impact: Assessing the economic and social impact of cybercrime on vulnerable populations. Important Facts Operation Chakra-V: CBI's ongoing initiative against cybercriminals. Dwibendu Moharana: Key accused arrested for involvement in tech support scams. Voip Connect Private Limited: Location of the illegal call centre operated by Moharana. National Police Agency of Japan: Key partner in the operation. Date of Arrest: October 30, 2025.