Kaushambi Police have arrested three alleged members of an interstate cyber fraud gang accused of luring social media users with promises of doubling their money and routing the proceeds through bank accounts belonging to unsuspecting people. The arrests were made during a joint operation by the Cyber Crime Police Station and Manjhanpur Police under Uttar Pradesh Police’s CyVajra campaign.
The accused have been identified as Nikhil Singh, a resident of Jajouli in Kaushambi district, and Aditya Kumar and Ayush Yadav, both residents of Semarhata in Fatehpur district. Police said the three were arrested near the Khora Road mazar following an investigation based on electronic records and technical inputs.
Complaints Over Frozen Accounts Led to Investigation
The investigation began after three residents, Shiv Babu of Chhogariya, Prem Prakash of Chak Nagar Pratham and Gulab Chandra of Paschim Sharira, approached police after their bank accounts were placed on hold.
Separate cases were subsequently registered at Manjhanpur and Paschim Sharira police stations under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Information Technology Act. Additional provisions concerning impersonation, forgery and the use of forged documents were added during the investigation.
Police said the arrested men admitted during questioning that they contacted people through Instagram and WhatsApp and promised to double their money. The proceeds of the alleged cyber fraud were then deposited into bank accounts obtained by misleading individuals.
According to police, the accused would collect the deposited amount in cash or use the funds to make online payments at shops. When questioned by traders, they allegedly produced forged Aadhaar cards showing Kaushambi addresses to conceal their actual identities and avoid detection.
Seven NCRP Complaints Traced Across Five Regions
Police said the alleged network has been linked to seven complaints registered on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal. The complaints originated from Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh, Churu in Rajasthan, Kolhapur, Nagpur city and Nagpur rural in Maharashtra, and two cases from Udhampur in Jammu and Kashmir.
Investigators are examining whether the arrested suspects were involved in additional cyber fraud cases and whether more individuals helped arrange bank accounts, withdraw funds or facilitate purchases using the proceeds.
The three cases currently under investigation were registered at Manjhanpur and Paschim Sharira police stations. Police said the accused were being produced before the competent court after completion of the required legal formalities.
Forged Aadhaar Cards and Delhi Police ID Seized
During the operation, police recovered three Android mobile phones, four allegedly forged Aadhaar cards, four ATM cards, two bank passbooks and ₹1,500 in cash.
The police also seized a motorcycle bearing registration number UP71AP3291 and an allegedly forged Delhi Police identity card. Investigators believe the recovered documents and devices were used to conceal the suspects’ identities and facilitate fraudulent transactions.
The electronic devices and banking records are expected to be examined further to identify the complete financial trail, other linked accounts and additional members of the alleged interstate network.
About the author — Suvedita Nath is a science student with a growing interest in cybercrime and digital safety. She writes on online activity, cyber threats, and technology-driven risks. Her work focuses on clarity, accuracy, and public awareness.
