Solving Crime: How a trial version VPN helped Mumbai cops trace student who sent 5 threat emails to Mukesh Ambani

Rajveer Khant, who was arrested for sending 5 threat emails to Mukesh Ambani, believed that by masking his IP address using a VPN and an encrypted mail service, he would not be traced, the police said

Rajveer Khant, who was arrested for sending 5 threat emails to Mukesh Ambani, believed that by masking his IP address using a VPN and an encrypted mail service, he would not be traced, the police said. (File/Express Photo by Partha Paul)

Rajveer Khant was under the impression that he had covered his tracks. When the 21-year-old from Gujarat allegedly sent five threatening emails to industrialist Mukesh Ambani after masking his IP address using a Virtual Private Network (VPN), he thought that he would never be caught, the police said. Except Khant had made a rookie error. He had used a trial version of the VPN instead of purchasing it.

Khant, a BCom student, was arrested by the Mumbai police in the first week of November 2023 from Kalol in Gujarat.

A Mumbai police officer said that the 21-year-old whose demands started from Rs 20 crore to Rs 400 crore and signed off his emails with ‘Catch me if you can’ was surprised to see the police at his doorstep as he was confident he had masked his identity.

Khant had created an account on an email service provider that is not available in India using a VPN where one can select any country’s IP address. The encrypted mail service is known not to provide account details to law enforcement agencies. He created an account in the name of ‘Shadab Khan’, reportedly while watching a Pakistan vs South Africa match where Pakistani bowler Shadab Khan was bowling, according to the police.

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Khant believed that by masking his IP address using a VPN and a mail service where getting data is difficult, he would not be traced, the police said.

However, his decision to use a trial version of a VPN proved costly. While law enforcement agencies are equipped with enough technical resources to trace people masking their IP address using VPN, in this case, Khant made their job easier by using a trial version.

To prompt him to purchase the VPN, the VPN service provider took off its network – thereby exposing Khant’s actual IP address.

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“It was just a ping to a service provider before the VPN network came off for a short time that helped us get his location to Kalol in Gujarat. It was based on this that we were able to track him down,” the officer said.

“When we reached his house, he was shocked. He could not believe how we reached him. We believe he just sent these emails to show off how technically proficient he was,” the officer added.

Mohamed Thaver

Mohamed Thaver is a highly specialized journalist with the Expertise and Authority required to report on complex law enforcement and legal issues. With a career dedicated to the crime beat for over a decade, his work provides readers with informed and trustworthy insights into Maharashtra's security and justice systems. Experience & Authority Core Focus: Has been exclusively covering the crime beat for over a decade, building deep, specialized knowledge in the field. Geographical Authority: Currently focuses heavily on law enforcement and policy in Maharashtra, providing authoritative coverage of the state's security apparatus. Key Beats: Law Enforcement: Reports on the operations of the Maharashtra Police and the Mumbai Crime Branch. Policy & Administration: Covers the Maharashtra Home Department, focusing on policy matters related to handling law and order and the evolution of the police force. Judiciary: Has significant past experience covering the courts, giving him a comprehensive understanding of the entire criminal justice process from investigation to verdict. Specialized Interest (Cyber & Forensics): Demonstrates Expertise in modern investigative techniques, with a keen focus on cyber crime and forensics, reporting on how these technologies assist complex crime investigations. Content Focus: His reports revolve around police probes, the evolution of the force, and state policy, ensuring his content is highly relevant and detailed. Credentials & Trustworthiness Mohamed Thaver’s long-standing specialization in the crime beat—combined with his focus on technological aspects like cyber crime and his direct coverage of major institutions like the Mumbai Crime Branch and the Maharashtra Home Department—underscores his Trustworthiness and status as an expert source for detailed and reliable journalism on law and order. He tweets @thaver_mohamed ... Read More

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