Bharuch has seen intense activity from the Special Operations Group (SOG) and Cyber Cell, focusing on large-scale financial fraud and narcotics.
Here are the full details on the major crime and police operations in Bharuch:
1. Pan-India Stock Market Syndicate (Rockcreek Fraud)
In mid-January 2026, the Gujarat CID (Cyber Centre of Excellence) dismantled a massive nationwide fraud operation with key arrests made in Bharuch and Tharad.
- The Scam: Victims were lured via WhatsApp groups into downloading a fake trading app called “Rockcreek.” The app showed “inflated profits” to encourage higher investments. When users tried to withdraw, they were told their accounts were “frozen by the US SEC” and asked for more money as “margin.”
- Scale of Crime: The syndicate is linked to 428 complaints across India, involving a total fraud of over ₹460 crore.
- The Arrests: Four individuals (Rama Lalji Pandya, Darshankumar Haresh Purohit, Amarat Hamir Joshi, and Radhuram Bhura Pandav) were caught. They operated as “account suppliers,” routing money through shell firms like “Darshan Parlour.”
- Seizures: Police recovered 126 bank account details, 9 mobile phones, 2 laptops, and numerous chequebooks.
2. International Heroin Racket Busted
On January 17, 2026, the Bharuch Special Operations Group (SOG) executed a successful sting operation following a specific tip-off.
- The Operation: Police intercepted two individuals, Rakesh Mandal and Dipak Singh, who had traveled from Bihar to Bharuch to distribute high-grade heroin.
- Seizure: 58.11 grams of heroin, valued at approximately ₹11.62 lakh, along with silver foil, ziplock bags, and railway tickets.
- The Perpetrators: Both arrested men are history-sheeters who were previously involved in a high-profile ₹44 lakh bank robbery in Ankleshwar in 2022. A third accomplice named Santosh is currently being pursued.
3. Monitoring of “Anti-National” Elements
In late 2025 and continuing into January 2026, the Bharuch Police updated their “Master List” of suspects to prevent radicalization and terror-related activities in the industrial belt.
- The Database: A watch list of 300 individuals was finalized. These individuals have past records related to the Arms Act, explosives, or fake currency (FICN).
- Verification Drive: This was part of a statewide audit by the Gujarat DGP. Local police have been conducting door-to-door verifications and preparing “digital dossiers” on these suspects to monitor their current employment and movements, especially in sensitive zones like Dahej and Ankleshwar.
4. Human Trafficking & Illegal Migration
The police have intensified a crackdown on illegal settlements in the GIDC (Industrial) areas, which were found to be hubs for trafficking.
- Operation Details: An interstate racket was busted involving the trafficking of women from Bangladesh. Since the start of the drive, over 100 illegal migrants have been identified in the Bharuch/Ankleshwar region.
- Enforcement: Police are now mandating tenant verification for all industrial workers to weed out those residing without valid documentation.
Summary Table: Key Crime Statistics (Jan 2026)
| Incident Type | Key Detail | Value/Scale |
| Cyber Fraud | Rockcreek Trading App Scam | ₹460 Crore (Pan-India) |
| Narcotics | Heroin Seizure (SOG Bharuch) | ₹11.62 Lakh |
| Surveillance | Anti-National Watch List | 300 Individuals |
| Makar Sankranti | Fatalities (Kite String/Manjha) | 1 Death (Pilundra Village) |