Kanpur: The Kanpur Crime Branch has uncovered an alleged cyber fraud network with links to Dubai and arrested three people from the Fazalganj area. According to police, the accused allegedly arranged bank accounts in India for cybercriminals operating from Dubai and used them to receive and transfer money obtained through fraudulent schemes.
Investigators have reportedly recovered records showing transactions involving approximately ₹23 crore in suspected fraud proceeds. Police suspect that further examination of bank accounts and digital records could push the identified amount to around ₹100 crore, while the wider network is suspected of being linked to cyber fraud exceeding ₹5,000 crore.
The arrested accused have been identified as Kapil Verma alias Shanty, Abhay Pratap and Rohit Singh. Police are also searching for other alleged members of the network, including a person described as the suspected mastermind.
How Did the Alleged Kanpur Network Work?
According to investigators, the network allegedly operated by arranging bank accounts that could be used by cyber fraudsters to receive money from victims.
People were allegedly persuaded to open bank accounts in their names on the pretext of receiving government scheme benefits, obtaining financial services or other banking facilities. The accounts were then allegedly made available to members of the network.
Cyber fraud proceeds were allegedly deposited into these accounts before being transferred through multiple bank accounts and payment channels.
Police are examining whether this process was used to distance the actual fraudsters from the money received from victims and make the financial trail more difficult to trace.
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Was the Money Sent to Dubai?
Investigators suspect that a portion of the alleged fraud proceeds was moved through hawala and other channels towards Dubai.
During questioning, police reportedly came across claims that around 40% of the fraud proceeds was allegedly paid onward as commission through different stages of the network.
The exact amount transferred abroad and the identities of the alleged beneficiaries have not yet been established. Police are examining bank transactions, digital communications and other financial records to reconstruct the alleged money trail.
Why Are 23 Bank Employees Under Suspicion?
One of the significant aspects of the investigation is the alleged contact between the arrested suspects and 23 bank officials and employees.
Police claim that examination of call detail records, chats and alleged call recordings dating back to 2024 revealed communication between the accused and employees associated with several banks.
The names of employees linked to Bank of India, Canara Bank, Punjab National Bank, HDFC Bank, Axis Bank, DCB Bank, Overseas Bank, Ujjivan and Airtel Payments Bank, among others, have reportedly surfaced during the probe.
Investigators suspect that some employees may have assisted in opening or operating suspicious accounts or resolving account-related issues in exchange for commissions.
However, being in contact with an accused person does not establish criminal involvement. Police will have to determine whether any employee knowingly facilitated the alleged fraud and whether there was a financial or other benefit involved.
Who Are the Three Arrested Accused?
Police have identified Kapil Verma alias Shanty as a key operator in the alleged network. Originally from Fatehpur, he was reportedly living in the Kanpur area.
Abhay Pratap, another arrested accused, is reportedly a resident of Sadh and holds a science degree. Investigators are examining whether his technical knowledge was used in handling aspects of the alleged cyber fraud operation.
Rohit Singh has also been arrested and is being questioned about his alleged role and connections with other members.
Police are searching for Abhay Shukla alias Sultan Mirza alias John Cena, who has been described as the alleged mastermind. Four other suspected members — Amit Singh alias Jagdish, Rahul, KP and Ashish — are also reportedly absconding.
How Did the Investigation Begin?
The Crime Branch reportedly began tracing the network after examining 29 complaints registered on the NCRP/NCRB portal.
Investigators then started connecting the complaints with suspicious bank accounts, mobile numbers and digital communications associated with the suspects.
This financial and digital mapping reportedly led police to the alleged account-arranging network operating from Kanpur.
₹23 Crore Transaction Records Recovered
Police have reportedly recovered a register and digital records containing details of transactions worth approximately ₹23 crore.
Investigators suspect that this amount may represent only a part of the network’s financial activity.
The records are being examined alongside bank statements and digital evidence to identify the source of the money, the accounts through which it moved and the people who ultimately received it.
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Why Are Mule Bank Accounts Important in Cyber Fraud?
Bank accounts belonging to individuals who allow others to use them can become mule accounts in cybercrime investigations.
Cybercriminals may use such accounts to receive money from victims before transferring it through several other accounts. This can create multiple layers between the victim and the person actually controlling the fraud.
For investigators, tracing these accounts can therefore help connect individual cyber fraud complaints to larger organised networks.
In the Kanpur case, police are examining whether the alleged account-arranging operation supplied accounts to multiple cybercrime groups rather than being limited to individual fraud cases.
Could the ₹5,000 Crore Figure Increase?
Police currently suspect that the wider network may be connected to cyber fraud exceeding ₹5,000 crore, while the records examined so far reportedly show around ₹23 crore in transactions.
Investigators believe the identified amount could reach approximately ₹100 crore after additional accounts and records are analysed.
The ₹5,000-crore figure is an investigative estimate at this stage and would need to be established through financial records, linked complaints and other evidence.
What Happens Next in the Investigation?
The Crime Branch is now examining bank accounts, transaction records, digital devices, mobile communications and alleged links with Dubai-based handlers.
Investigators are also expected to question the 23 bank employees whose contacts reportedly surfaced during the probe and determine whether any of them knowingly facilitated suspicious account activity.
The police are searching for the alleged mastermind and other suspected members while attempting to trace the remaining fraud proceeds.
If investigators establish links between the suspected transactions, cyber fraud complaints and the alleged Dubai-based operators, the probe could expand to additional accused and potentially reveal a much larger financial network.
The case remains under investigation, and the actual scale of the alleged cyber fraud network will depend on evidence recovered during the ongoing financial and digital investigation.
About the author:Ananya Aradhya writes on cybercrime, fraud, scams, cybersecurity, digital safety, and emerging threats. Her work also covers major criminal cases, financial frauds, consumer scams, and stories that highlight risks affecting people in the real and digital world.
