Police in Gorakhpur have arrested six people accused of opening bank accounts in the names of unsuspecting individuals on the promise of benefits under government schemes and then using those accounts to channel money from cyber fraud.
Investigators said the accused kept the ATM cards, passbooks and cheque books of the account holders and used the accounts to move illicit funds. The case surfaced after a complaint at Kotwali police station, and police said efforts are continuing to trace other members of the network.
How the case came to light
According to police, the matter came to light after a written complaint was received at Kotwali police station on March 15. The complainant said some people had trapped his son by offering benefits under government schemes and got a bank account opened in his name. The passbook, ATM card and cheque book were then kept by the accused.
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After some time, when no benefit was received, suspicion arose. It later emerged, according to the complaint, that the account was being used to dispose of money generated through cyber fraud.
How the network allegedly worked
Police registered an FIR and began an investigation. During questioning, the accused allegedly said that on the instructions of Omkar Agrahari, also known as Ajit, and Rituraj Yadav, others were lured with promises linked to government schemes and brought into the network.
The complaint states that bank accounts were opened in different banks and the passbooks, ATM cards and cheque books were handed over to Rituraj Yadav. He then allegedly passed account details to unidentified persons named Ramdas and John Baba.
Police said John Baba used those mule accounts to send and withdraw fraud proceeds. Omkar Agrahari allegedly told investigators that he had come into contact with Ramdas and John Baba through Telegram and had been working on their instructions since then.
Six arrests and search for others
The arrested accused were identified as Anuj Vishwakarma, also known as Shubham Vishwakarma, of Humayupur under Gorakhnath police station; Omkar Agrahari of Mirzapur under Rajghat police station; Rituraj Yadav of Sarguha in Chitrakoot district; Rahul Singh of Kaudiram under Gagha police station; Divyanshu Singh, also known as Sahil Singh, of Deoria and presently living in Indranagar Phase 1 under Ramgarhtal police station in Gorakhpur; and Aditya Chaudhary, also known as Saurabh, of Humayupur under Gorakhnath police station.
SP City Nimesh Patil said a case had been registered on the victim’s complaint and six accused had been arrested. Police said the search for other members of the gang is continuing.
About the author – Rehan Khan is a law student and legal journalist with a keen interest in cybercrime, digital fraud, and emerging technology laws. He writes on the intersection of law, cybersecurity, and online safety, focusing on developments that impact individuals and institutions in India.
