Delhi Police have uncovered a cyber fraud racket with links to foreign handlers operating through encrypted social media channels, following the arrest of three men, including a relationship manager at a private bank.
Senior officers said the network used mule bank accounts to siphon money obtained through online investment frauds, and investigators are now conducting a reverse trail inquiry to identify the wider network and its overseas connections.
Complaint on National Portal Led to Probe
The case was traced to a complaint lodged on the National Cybercrime Reporting Portal by Aman Babu Maurya, a resident of Bareilly in Uttar Pradesh, who was allegedly cheated of ₹10,000 in an investment fraud.
According to deputy commissioner of police Rajiv Kumar, the cheated money was transferred into an alleged mule account maintained at a private bank in Mayur Vihar Phase 1 in east Delhi.
Police said the special staff team of the east police district examined the account details and found that it had been opened in the name of a private firm under the proprietorship of a resident of Delhi’s Old Kondli, identified as Shokin. Financial scrutiny further revealed that the same account was linked to eight more complaints on the NCRP, indicating repeated use in cyber fraud activity.
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Sections Invoked, Network Under Scanner
A case of petty organised crime and cheating was registered under Sections 112 and 318 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita at Pandav Nagar police station on April 8. Officers said the investigation is now focused on tracing the full cybercrime network associated with those arrested, including the alleged foreign handlers.
Police said the findings pointed to a structured operation involving encrypted communication channels and the use of bank accounts opened and operated for fraudulent transactions. The reverse trail investigation is intended to uncover the people behind the flow of money and the larger network linked to the fraud.
Arrests Point to Mule Account Facilitation
Investigators first arrested Shokin, who, according to police, disclosed that he had been induced to open the account by his nephew, Sharuk alias Jojo. Sharuk was later arrested. During interrogation, police said, the role of a bank employee in facilitating the opening of mule accounts for monetary benefits also came to light.
Following this, a raid was conducted at the private bank, where relationship manager Franshu Kumar was arrested, police said. Officers said the arrests have exposed how bank accounts were allegedly opened and used as part of a cyber fraud chain connected to online investment scams.
About the author – Ayesha Aayat is a law student and contributor covering cybercrime, online frauds, and digital safety concerns. Her writing aims to raise awareness about evolving cyber threats and legal responses.
