In a landmark move, the Pimpri-Chinchwad police in Maharashtra have invoked the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) against a nine-member gang linked to a significant cyber fraud case. This is the first instance of MCOCA being applied to cybercrime in the region. The case emerged after a senior citizen was duped of over ₹11 crore (approximately $1.3 million USD) through a fraudulent online trading application. A case was registered on February 20, 2026, at the cyber police station under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Information Technology Act. The investigation revealed that the gang operated across various locations, including Mumbai, Pimpri-Chinchwad, and parts of Madhya Pradesh, using digital platforms to execute their fraud and convert the stolen funds into foreign currencies. So far, police have managed to freeze ₹2.65 crore (approximately $320,000 USD) of the defrauded amount. The gang's organized operations involved creating fake trading platforms and enticing victims with promises of high returns, ultimately siphoning off their funds through complex transactions. The police have arrested several suspects from different locations, including Kolhapur, Wagholi, and Rajasthan.