CBI Busts Illegal Call Centre in Lucknow; Arrests Key Operative of Transnational Cyber-Crime Network
New Delhi / Lucknow, November 21, 2025:
In a major breakthrough against organized cyber-crime, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested a key absconding operative and busted another illegal call centre in Lucknow that was actively targeting US nationals.
According to CBI officials, the arrested accused Vikas Kumar Nimar played a crucial role in running a transnational cyber-crime syndicate. He had been absconding since September 2024, when the agency registered a case and launched a series of coordinated raids across multiple cities.
Call Centres in Four Cities Earlier Dismantled
On 24 September 2024, the CBI registered a case and subsequently conducted extensive searches at various locations linked to the accused network. During those operations, the agency busted four illegal call centres operating out of Pune, Hyderabad, and Visakhapatnam.
Investigators revealed that Vikas Kumar Nimar was instrumental in setting up and managing illegal call centres under the name VC InfroMetrix Pvt. Ltd. in Pune and Visakhapatnam. Following the raids, he went underground, evading arrest for more than a year.
To secure his custody, the CBI obtained an arrest warrant from the Court of the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Pune.
Arrest in Lucknow and Fresh Raids
On 20 November 2025, the CBI tracked Nimar to his residence in Lucknow and arrested him. During searches at his residence, officers seized ₹14 lakh in cash, several mobile phones, and incriminating documents related to the cyber-crime operations.
During the same operation, the CBI uncovered another illegal call centre in Lucknow being run by Nimar. The facility was immediately dismantled. Searches at the premises led to the recovery of 52 laptops containing incriminating digital evidence, which were allegedly used for defrauding US citizens.
Ongoing Investigation With International Coordination
Officials said the investigation is ongoing, with more arrests and seizures likely as the agency uncovers deeper layers of the international network.
The CBI emphasized that it is proactively identifying and dismantling technology-enabled organized crime syndicates, working closely with INTERPOL and law enforcement agencies in the United States and other countries.
This crackdown marks another significant step in India’s efforts to combat cyber fraud targeting foreign nationals, especially the rising number of scams operated through illegal call centres.
