Gwalior | December 24, 2025 | The Crime Branch in Madhya Pradesh’s Gwalior has busted a major international cyber fraud racket that was operating under the cover of an MP Online Centre, a platform associated with government services. Police have arrested seven accused, including the operator of the network. Investigations reveal that money siphoned off through fraud was first routed through fake and mule bank accounts, then converted into cryptocurrency and transferred to Nigeria to conceal the money trail.
According to Crime Branch officials, the gang had been active for a long period and its operations were not limited to Gwalior or Madhya Pradesh alone. The probe has established that the defrauded money was moved via Rajasthan before being sent abroad, with links traced to African countries, particularly Nigeria. Police believe this could be one of the most organised and sophisticated cyber fraud networks uncovered in Gwalior so far.
Trust Built Using MP Online Identity
The investigation revealed that the accused posed as legitimate MP Online service providers to gain the trust of unsuspecting citizens. Since MP Online is associated with government services, victims rarely suspected foul play. Exploiting this credibility, the accused used fake calls, malicious links, online scams and other digital methods to obtain victims’ bank details, OTPs and login credentials.
Once access was gained, money was siphoned off from victims’ accounts. Instead of transferring the funds directly to main accounts, the gang first routed the money through mule accounts, a tactic designed to distance the masterminds from the crime and complicate the investigation.
Money Converted to Crypto and Sent Abroad
Police further found that the funds deposited in mule accounts were swiftly converted into cryptocurrency. The digital assets were then transferred to wallets controlled by associates based overseas. Officials said the intent was to move the money outside the traditional banking system, making tracking and recovery extremely difficult.
Investigators noted that the use of cryptocurrency was central to the gang’s strategy, enabling fast cross-border transfers while obscuring the financial trail.
Shivpuri Resident Sonu Jatav Named Mastermind
According to the Crime Branch, the mastermind of the network is Sonu Jatav, a resident of Shivpuri. He allegedly managed the arrangement of mule bank accounts and controlled the flow of funds. Police said Jatav targeted poor and financially vulnerable individuals, luring them with small incentives to open bank accounts in their names.
The debit cards, net banking access and OTP control of these accounts remained with the gang. While account holders received minimal commissions, crores of rupees were routed through these accounts and diverted abroad.
84 ATM Cards and 9 Mobile Phones Seized
During the operation, police seized 84 ATM cards, nine mobile phones, and other digital devices from the accused. Officials believe these phones contain crucial evidence, including chat histories, call records, bank transaction details and cryptocurrency wallet information linked to the fraud.
All seized devices have been sent for forensic examination. Investigators expect the analysis to reveal additional members of the network as well as clearer details of its foreign connections.
Crores in Fraud Suspected, Probe Continues
A key question before investigators is how many people were defrauded and the total amount transferred overseas. Preliminary estimates suggest the fraud could involve several crores of rupees.
Police officials said the misuse of a platform associated with government services makes the case particularly serious. All accused are currently being interrogated, and authorities are confident that the investigation will soon expose more layers of this international cyber fraud network.
