Basti | November 30, 2025 | In a major crackdown on cyber-enabled financial crimes, police in Uttar Pradesh’s Basti district have dismantled a racket responsible for over ₹4.49 crore worth of online fraud. The joint operation by Kotwali police, Lalganj police, and the district Cyber Cell led to the arrest of six members linked to the notorious Mewat-based cyber crime network.
The group allegedly targeted rural communities, coaxing individuals into opening bank accounts under the pretext of availing government benefits or earning profits through investment and trading schemes. These mule accounts were then exploited to channel and withdraw fraudulent funds generated by cyber criminals operating remotely.
Door-to-door luring, threats when confronted
Deputy Inspector General said the accused moved from village to village, promising free bank accounts, government subsidies, or exceptional returns on trading platforms. They retained the ATM cards, cheque books, SIM cards and passbooks of the account holders, effectively controlling the accounts.
If villagers later demanded their documents back or suspected misuse, the gang allegedly threatened them into silence.
Two coordinated operations — suspects arrested from separate spots
As per officials, the breakthrough came after extensive digital surveillance and ground intelligence inputs:
- Three accused were arrested near Mathauli Chhath Pokhara around 8:10 AM
- Another three were detained from the Basti Roadways Bus Station at 9 AM
The arrested have been identified as:
- Sujit Chaudhary, Nipendra Chaudhary, Ramnath Chauhan — connected to Lalganj region
- Ashwini Pathak, Nikhil Tripathi, Prashant Mishra — linked to Kotwali and Harraiya areas
38 bank accounts linked to 74+ fraud cases nationwide
The Cyber Cell’s preliminary audit indicates:
- 38 bank accounts were being misused
- Over 74 cases of cyber fraud registered across multiple states are tied to these accounts
- Total fraudulent proceeds exceed ₹4,49,61,000
Funds siphoned from victims across India were routed through these accounts, then withdrawn in cash or layered through multiple transfers to escape law enforcement detection.
Phones, bank documents seized — trail leading to Mewat
During raids, police recovered:
- Three smartphones
- ₹650 in cash
- A bank passbook
While the monetary recovery appears small, investigators say digital evidence stored in the seized devices is crucial in tracing the masterminds — widely believed to be operating from the Mewat region, a known hub of organized cybercrime.
Why this bust matters
Officials called the operation a significant strike because:
- It disrupts the fast-spreading mule account ecosystem in UP
- Exposes deep penetration of cybercriminals into rural and financially vulnerable groups
- Uncovers local collaborations aiding inter-state cyber mafias
Authorities warned that unemployed youth are increasingly being recruited with promises of easy income, turning them into accomplices in large-scale financial fraud.
DIG Tyagi emphasized that “such networks pose a national cyber security threat far beyond local financial crime. Further arrests are expected soon.”
