Police in Bihar’s Bhagalpur district have busted an alleged cyber fraud network operating from the fifth floor of a private hospital in the Nathnagar area, arresting five people and seizing mobile phones, digital devices, banking material and other documents.
The accused allegedly used mule bank accounts to receive and move proceeds of cyber fraud. Police said the operation was being run in a concealed manner from a location inside the hospital building.
How Was the Gang Operating From a Hospital?
Police received information that a cyber fraud network was operating from the fifth floor of a private hospital in the Nathnagar area. A raid was subsequently conducted at the premises.
Investigators said the location was allegedly being used as an operational base for cyber fraud. The use of a hospital building provided the group with a place from which its activities could be carried out away from immediate suspicion.
During the raid, police detained five people allegedly linked to the operation and recovered several devices and documents that are now part of the investigation.
Who Were Arrested?
The five arrested accused were identified as Krishna Kumar Soni, Tejaswi Kumar, Nandish Priyadarshi, Prahlad Kumar and Sant Kumar.
According to the details given by police, the accused came from different locations, including areas of Jharkhand and Bhagalpur district.
Investigators are examining their individual roles and the wider network connected with the alleged cyber fraud operation.
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What Did Police Recover?
Police seized 15 mobile phones during the operation. They also recovered four digital devices, including a laptop and other electronic equipment.
Seven banking-related documents were recovered, including ATM cards, UPI-related material and a chequebook. Police also seized four identity documents and one motorcycle.
The recoveries are being examined to determine how the alleged fraud operation functioned and whether the seized banking and digital material can establish links to other people or transactions.
How Were Mule Accounts Allegedly Used?
The investigation has brought the alleged use of mule bank accounts into focus. Such accounts were allegedly used to receive money obtained through cyber fraud and to move the funds through different transactions.
Police suspect that accounts were arranged or used to receive fraudulent proceeds before the money was transferred further, making the financial trail more difficult to follow.
The investigation is now examining bank accounts and transaction records connected with the accused. Police are also looking into the wider network that may have supplied or controlled accounts used for moving money.
Were Shopkeepers Also Being Targeted?
Police have warned shopkeepers against allowing unknown people to use their payment facilities or accounts for transactions.
Bhagalpur City DSP Hemant Singh appealed to shop owners not to permit strangers to use their QR codes for suspicious transactions. He also cautioned against accepting requests in which someone offers cash in exchange for making payments through a shopkeeper’s digital payment facility.
According to the warning, shopkeepers could face legal trouble if their payment infrastructure or bank accounts are used in transactions connected with criminal proceeds.
Police therefore urged traders to follow proper payment practices and avoid facilitating transactions for unknown individuals without understanding their purpose.
What Is Police Investigating Now?
Investigators are examining the seized mobile phones, digital devices, banking records and identity documents to establish the full scale of the alleged network.
The financial trail is also under scrutiny. Police are trying to determine how the accounts were obtained, who controlled them, how money moved through them and whether other individuals were involved.
The investigation is expected to focus on identifying additional links in the network and tracing transactions associated with the alleged cyber fraud operation.
The420 Insight
The Bhagalpur case shows how cyber fraud operations can function from seemingly ordinary premises while relying on bank accounts and digital payment channels to move money. The police warning to shopkeepers is particularly important: allowing strangers to route payments through personal or business accounts can expose the account holder to investigation if the money is linked to cybercrime.
About the author — Ayesha Aayat writes on cybercrime, digital safety, and emerging online threats. Her work focuses on public awareness, legal clarity, and technology-driven risks.
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