NEW DELHI – In what is being hailed as the most significant digital crackdown in Indian history, the “Invisible Eye” of the National Intelligence Grid (NATGRID) has officially shattered the anonymity of over 12,000 elite cyber-fraudsters.
The Income Tax Department and GST authorities—armed with newly granted access to the country’s most powerful data-sharing platform—have successfully unmasked a “ghost network” of 12,870 accounts that were used to siphon billions through spoofed identities and crypto-laundering.
The End of Information Silos
For years, the National Intelligence Grid was the exclusive weapon of elite central units. The CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation), ED (Enforcement Directorate), and NIA (National Investigation Agency) have already been using it extensively to dismantle terror modules and high-level money laundering schemes.
However, the game changed this week. Under new government directives, the floodgates have opened:
- State Police Integration: NATGRID data will also be shared with State Police henceforth, allowing local Superintendent-rank officers to track criminals across state borders in real-time.
- Taxman’s New Vision: For the first time, the IT and GST Departments will get full access to NATGRID data. This means “tax-matching” no longer relies on self-declarations; the system can now automatically cross-reference lifestyle spending, luxury travel, and hidden assets.
Crypto & Banks: No More “Off-Grid”
The most shocking revelation of the recent bust was how criminals used “spoofed trails”—digital breadcrumbs designed to look like legitimate transactions. They didn’t count on the new NATGRID protocols.
Under the updated framework, Bank accounts and Crypto Exchanges must also comply with the protocols of NATGRID.
“The days of hiding behind decentralized ledgers or offshore shells are over,” said a senior official. “If a transaction touches the Indian financial ecosystem, NATGRID’s ‘Gandiva’ AI tool will find the link. Whether it’s a suspicious Bitcoin transfer or a shell bank account in a Tier-3 city, the dots are now connected automatically.”
What the ‘National Grid’ Now Tracks:
| Data Source | Capability |
| Banking & Finance | Real-time tracking of suspicious transfers and “highly sensitive” statements. |
| Crypto Exchanges | Mandatory KYC and transaction reporting directly into the intelligence grid. |
| Travel & Logistics | Immigration records, airline manifests, and even FASTag movements. |
| Public Records | Integration with the National Population Register (NPR) for family-tree mapping. |
