Ahmedabad Crime Branch Busts Interstate Gang Cheating Flipkart, Amazon via Delivery Chain Manipulation

AHMEDABAD: The Ahmedabad City Crime Branch has uncovered an organised interstate racket that allegedly defrauded leading e-commerce platforms, including Flipkart and Amazon, by exploiting vulnerabilities in their delivery supply chains and replacing high-value gadgets with dummy products, police said on Saturday.

According to officials, the gang systematically planted its associates as delivery personnel with courier companies operating in cities such as Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Surat and Jalore. Using multiple fake customer IDs and login credentials, the accused placed orders for premium electronic items. Before the parcels were delivered to customers, insiders intercepted the consignments.

Investigators said the gang used specialised tools to open sealed packages without leaving visible signs of tampering. The original high-end devices were removed and replaced with lookalike dummy products. The orders were subsequently cancelled or marked for return, while the stolen gadgets were sold in the grey market for financial gain.

In the operation, the Crime Branch arrested five accused — Ramlal alias Romil Gahlot, Manoj Kumar Mali, Bharat Kumar Sundesha, Vishal Hasmukhbhai Panchal and Vishal Kanjibhai Bavri. Two others, identified as Rishipal Bhati and Vinod, are currently absconding.

During searches conducted as part of the crackdown, police recovered eight original mobile phones, 25 dummy phones, three dummy earbuds, 12 dummy gaming processors, a camera lens and an electric hair dryer.

During interrogation, the accused allegedly confessed to carrying out several similar frauds over the past few months. Police said the gang fraudulently obtained an iPhone 17 Pro Max and three iPhone 16 Pro units in Vadodara in January 2026. In earlier incidents, they reportedly stole seven mobile phones and 10 Apple Watches in Surat in October 2025, and two Apple Watches in Jalore in December 2025.

Cases have been registered under Sections 61(2)(a) and 316(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Police said further investigation is underway to trace the remaining suspects and identify the broader network linked to the racket.