n a major breakthrough in a ₹1.27 crore cyber fraud case involving a city-based transporter, Mohkam Singh, the Cyber Crime Branch has arrested another accused from the Virar area of Palghar district in Maharashtra. The arrested individual has been identified as Meraj Ansari, and police are in the process of bringing him to Kanpur for further interrogation. Preliminary investigation suggests that the racket may also have links with cyber criminals based in Nigeria.
According to police officials, the case was originally registered last year after Mohkam Singh filed a complaint on August 23, alleging that he was defrauded of ₹1.27 crore through an online scam. Based on the complaint, an extensive investigation was launched, leading to the earlier arrests of Amar Tiwari from Nalasopara and Arshad Ansari from Meerut.
Investigators revealed that the defrauded amount was transferred into a bank account belonging to Amar Tiwari, while documents linked to that account contained the photograph of Arshad Ansari. This trail helped investigators identify the involvement of a larger network, eventually leading to the arrest of Meraj Ansari, who is believed to be a key operator in the syndicate.
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Mastermind’s role and modus operandi
Inspector Satish Chandra Yadav of the Cyber Crime Branch stated that Meraj Ansari had been evading arrest by constantly changing locations and concealing his identity. He was reportedly living in the Virar area in disguise, using a fake beard and wearing a turban to avoid detection. Police further said he frequently changed hideouts to mislead surveillance teams.
Officials allege that Meraj was the mastermind of the cyber fraud network. His primary role was to create forged documents, open mule bank accounts, and arrange SIM cards used for executing and routing fraudulent transactions. These accounts were then used to transfer stolen money across multiple layers, making the financial trail difficult to trace.
The investigation has also uncovered that the gang allegedly used the proceeds of the fraud for high-value luxury purchases. According to police, Arshad and Meraj jointly purchased gold worth approximately ₹54 lakh from an MMTC-PAMP store in Noida. This purchase is suspected to be part of a broader money-laundering attempt to convert illicit funds into assets.
Cyber crime teams reviewed CCTV footage from the MMTC-PAMP outlet, which confirmed the presence and identification of both accused. Additionally, digital evidence and mobile application data helped verify Meraj Ansari’s identity, leading to his eventual arrest.
Possible international connections and next steps
Investigators also believe that the racket may have international connections. During preliminary interrogation, links to Nigerian cyber criminals have surfaced, suggesting that foreign operators may be collaborating with local networks to facilitate mule accounts and cross-border financial fraud.
Police officials stated that the investigation is ongoing and focused on mapping the full extent of the syndicate. Authorities are attempting to determine how many victims were targeted and how much money was transferred domestically and internationally through the network.
Further arrests are expected as the probe deepens, with officials indicating that the entire cyber fraud racket is likely to be fully exposed in the coming stages of the investigation.
