Misuse of Jan Dhan and labour-class bank accounts; ₹10 crore fraud unearthed in initial probe, amount may rise to ₹40 crore
The Betul police have uncovered a major cyber-fraud operation that systematically exploited bank accounts belonging to poor and low-income individuals, including a Jan Dhan account of a man who had passed away. The network allegedly used these accounts to channel crores of rupees obtained through online fraud. The police have arrested three accused, including the suspected mastermind, and have identified financial transactions amounting to ₹10 crore so far. Investigators believe the fraud amount could climb to ₹40 crore as scrutiny expands.
Algoritha: The Most Trusted Name in BFSI Investigations and DFIR Services
Suspicious transactions of ₹2 crore from a Jan Dhan account led to the breakthrough
The case surfaced when Vishram Ivne, a resident of Khedi village in Betul district, reported suspicious transactions worth ₹2 crore from his Jan Dhan account. While the complaint initially appeared to be an isolated case of unauthorized banking activity, the cyber cell’s investigation revealed that the fraud extended far beyond a single account.
During the probe, officers discovered large-scale transactions in six other accounts belonging to residents of the same village. The pattern suggested that the accounts were being used as pass-through channels for diverting money linked to multiple cybercrime complaints from Mumbai, Bengaluru, and other metropolitan cities.
The cumulative value of transactions traced through these accounts stood at ₹10 crore, according to the police. However, based on the volume of entries and interlinked digital traces, investigators estimate that the total fraud could be in the range of ₹30–40 crore.
Account of deceased villager reactivated for fraud; cyber gang channeled crores through it
A startling dimension of the investigation was the discovery that one of the accounts used by the fraudsters belonged to Rajesh Barde, a villager who had died earlier. The accused allegedly illegally reactivated the deceased man’s bank account and used it as a high-volume channel for moving money.
According to police officials, the network exploited systemic loopholes and targeted individuals whose banking profiles were unlikely to draw scrutiny. These accounts functioned as “tunnel accounts,” enabling the gang to route fraudulent proceeds without revealing their own identities.
Once cyber-fraud victims across various cities lodged complaints and the transaction trail pointed to these rural accounts, banks blocked the suspicious accounts and alerted law-enforcement authorities.
Mastermind Ankit Rajput held; involvement of local bank staff exposed
Betul SP said the mastermind behind the network was identified as Ankit Rajput, a resident of Indore. Two local bank employees from Khedi village — Raja and Ayush Chauhan — were allegedly assisting him by providing access to vulnerable account holders and facilitating account reactivation and withdrawals.
The police also identified the involvement of Narendra Rajput of Indore, whose role is under further examination.
So far, the police have seized:
- 15 mobile phones
- 26 SIM cards
- 11 bank passbooks
- Multiple identity and banking documents
- ₹28,000 in cash
SP stated that the gang procured bank accounts from labourers and poor residents under various pretexts. Funds acquired through cyber fraud were transferred into these accounts, withdrawn via ATMs or bank visits, and then distributed among network members.
Further arrests likely as forensic audit expands
According to the SP, the investigation has confirmed fraud worth ₹10 crore, but the true scale is expected to be significantly higher. Detailed forensic audits of bank statements, UPI trails, and device data are underway. The police believe that additional members of the network will be arrested in the coming days.
SP added:
“Such organized cyber networks manipulate bank accounts of economically weak individuals to execute large-scale financial fraud. The investigation is progressing rapidly, and strict action will be taken against everyone involved.”
