Gorakhpur. Gulhariya police have uncovered an alleged network that targeted unemployed youths with promises of jobs and financial benefits, opened bank accounts in their names and allegedly used those accounts to route proceeds of cyber fraud. Four people have been arrested in connection with the case. The accused allegedly took possession of account holders’ ATM cards, passbooks, cheque books and other banking documents and operated the accounts themselves. Money allegedly obtained through cyber fraud in different states was deposited into these accounts before being transferred to other bank accounts or withdrawn through ATMs.
According to police, the case came to light after Shubham Nishad, a resident of Rampur Buzurg, approached the police with a complaint. He said he was looking for employment when he came into contact with Ravi Nishad, a resident of Jungle Dumri Number One, and Vinay Sahani and Alok Sahani, residents of Mirzapur in the Ramgarhtal area. The three allegedly introduced him to Ankit Dubey, a resident of Gayatri Nagar under the jurisdiction of the AIIMS police station. The accused allegedly won his confidence by promising him a good job and periodic financial benefits.
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According to the complaint, the accused subsequently arranged for bank accounts to be opened in the names of Shubham’s acquaintances — Nihal Nishad, Vijay Sharma, Rajveer Chauhan and Lokesh — allegedly in the name of employment and business-related activities. The accounts included those opened at Indian Bank in Bhathat and UCO Bank in Jeetpur, Maharajganj. The accused allegedly took possession of important documents associated with the accounts after they were opened.
Investigators found that the account holders’ ATM cards, passbooks and cheque books were allegedly kept by the accused. The accounts were then allegedly used for transactions involving proceeds of cybercrime. Money obtained through cyber fraud in different states was allegedly routed into these accounts before being transferred to other accounts or withdrawn in cash through ATMs.
The alleged operation came under scrutiny after Shubham Nishad learned about suspicious transactions in the bank accounts. He subsequently approached Gulhariya police. Based on his complaint, police registered a case against Ravi Nishad, Vinay Sahani, Alok Sahani, Ankit Dubey and an unidentified person under relevant provisions, including the Information Technology Act. Investigators then began examining the bank transactions and activities of the accused.
During the investigation, a police team arrested four named accused near Madarhwa Bridge. The arrested suspects are being questioned about the use of the bank accounts, possession of account holders’ documents and the movement of funds. Investigators are also attempting to establish from which states and cybercrime cases the allegedly fraudulent money originated.
The investigation is now focusing on the complete transaction trail of the bank accounts. Police are examining the accounts from which money was received, the accounts to which it was transferred, ATM withdrawals and other suspicious transactions. Investigators are also trying to determine how many accounts were allegedly opened by the accused in the names of other individuals and how many of them were subsequently used for routing suspected cybercrime proceeds.
Tracing the original source of the alleged cyber fraud proceeds is another key aspect of the investigation. Police are examining whether the funds were linked to specific cyber fraud cases and how the money moved through multiple bank accounts after reaching the accounts allegedly controlled by the accused. The transaction trail could help investigators identify other members of the suspected network.
According to police, all four arrested accused were produced before a court and sent to judicial custody. The investigation into other suspected members of the network is continuing. Police are also examining the role of the account holders and how they became connected with the accused. Investigators will seek to establish whether the account holders knowingly allowed their accounts to be used or were themselves deceived through employment-related promises.
As the investigation progresses, banking records, digital evidence and transaction details are expected to help investigators reconstruct the alleged network. Police are particularly focusing on people who may have arranged for cyber fraud proceeds to be deposited into the accounts, transferred the money onward or withdrawn it in cash.
The arrests have brought the alleged mule-account operation under scrutiny, but the precise role of each accused will depend on the evidence collected during the investigation. Police are continuing to examine financial records and digital evidence to identify additional suspects and determine the scale of the alleged cyber fraud 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.
