A major cyber fraud and illegal money laundering racket has been uncovered in Uttar Pradesh’s Kanpur, where the Barra police exposed an alleged network involved in routing crores of rupees through fake bank accounts, shell firms and coded financial communication. Investigators claim the syndicate was being used to channel cybercrime proceeds and suspicious business funds through layered banking transactions, while the possible involvement of banking officials has also come under scrutiny.
During the investigation, police recovered WhatsApp chats between alleged mastermind Rajbir Singh Yadav and Amit Singh, a deputy manager of a private bank. According to investigators, the conversations included coded phrases such as “deposit 30 kilos of goods.” Police claim that the term “kilo” was being used as a codeword for “₹1 lakh.” The very next day after the message exchange, nearly ₹30 lakh was reportedly transferred into two separate bank accounts.
Fake Firms, Shell Accounts, and Banking‑Staff Under Scanner
Officials believe the network was involved in laundering money linked to cyber fraud, hawala operations and suspicious commercial transactions by routing funds through multiple layers to make them appear legitimate. During the probe, police identified two allegedly fake firms — “Arjun Namkeen” and “Prabhu Service.” Investigators said transactions worth nearly ₹5 crore were traced to the Arjun Namkeen account, while another ₹9 crore was detected in the account of Prabhu Service.
According to police, many of these bank accounts were allegedly opened using forged documents in the names of vegetable vendors, sanitation workers and daily wage labourers. Authorities suspect the accounts were used to rotate funds linked to cyber fraud, tax evasion and illegal hawala dealings.
The investigation has also brought employees and officials of multiple financial institutions, including Axis Bank and Utkarsh Bank, under the scanner. Police sources claim that unusually high-value transactions continued through several accounts without suspicious activity alerts being raised. Authorities are now conducting forensic analysis of banking records, KYC documents and digital transaction trails.
Prabhu‑Service‑Linked ₹3,200 Crore Cyber‑Fraud Exposed in Kanpur
In a related development, investigators are also probing an alleged ₹3,200 crore illegal transaction network connected to the case. Police teams are searching for Faiz Ali alias “Pappu Chhuri,” son of Mahfooz Ali, who is suspected to be linked to the operation. Raids have reportedly been conducted in Gorakhpur and areas near the Nepal border.
According to investigators, the syndicate allegedly helped slaughterhouse operators and scrap traders launder illegal funds through fake accounts and layered transfers. Police said nearly 100 bank accounts linked to Mahfooz Ali and his relatives have been identified across 12 different banks. Officials claim some accounts witnessed transactions worth ₹4 crore to ₹6 crore in a single day.
The DCP South stated that nearly ₹3.20 crore linked to Rajbir and his relatives has been frozen so far. Several alleged masterminds and bank officials have already been arrested and sent to jail, while investigators continue to identify other members connected to the network.
Police investigations have also revealed the names of several major scrap traders from Gorakhpur, Jhansi and Delhi. Authorities suspect these traders used fake accounts to obtain fraudulent Input Tax Credit (ITC) benefits and route suspicious funds. Economic offences and cybercrime agencies are now expanding the probe into these business links as well.
Renowned cybercrime expert and former IPS officer Prof. Triveni Singh said, “Cyber fraud syndicates are increasingly using fake firms, digital banking channels and coded communication to run organised financial crime operations. Criminals attempt to legitimise illegal money through account layering, forged KYC documents and shell companies. Cases like these require strong banking surveillance, AI-based transaction analysis and coordinated multi-agency digital forensic investigations.”
