Kanpur: The Kanpur Commissionerate Police and Crime Branch have busted an alleged international cyber fraud network linked to Dubai and arrested three people accused of arranging bank accounts for cybercriminals.
According to police, the accused allegedly targeted ordinary and economically vulnerable people by promising government scheme benefits or other financial services and used their identity documents to arrange bank accounts. These accounts were allegedly provided to cyber fraudsters operating from Dubai to receive and move proceeds of online scams.
During the investigation, police reportedly found contacts involving 23 bank officials and employees in the mobile phones, call detail records and messages of the arrested suspects. Investigators suspect that some of the employees may have knowingly helped open or operate mule accounts or resolve account-related issues in exchange for commissions.
However, police are yet to establish whether any of the 23 employees were knowingly involved in criminal activity.
How Did the Alleged Bank Account Network Work?
According to investigators, the accused allegedly recruited people by promising government benefits, financial assistance or banking services.
Their identity documents were then allegedly used to open bank accounts. These accounts were subsequently made available to cyber fraudsters, who allegedly used them to receive money stolen from victims across the country.
The funds were allegedly transferred through multiple bank accounts and payment channels before being moved further through the network. Police are investigating whether a portion of the proceeds was ultimately transferred towards Dubai through banking channels or alleged hawala networks.
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Three Accused Arrested in Kanpur
Police have identified Kapil Verma alias Kapil Dev alias Shanty as a key member of the alleged network.
Originally from Chaudgara in Fatehpur, Kapil was reportedly living in Coal Nagar, Kanpur, and had allegedly been operating from the city for around eight years. Police said he also ran a shop in Naubasta.
The second accused, Abhay Pratap, is reportedly from Saadh in Kanpur. He is a science graduate and, according to investigators, was familiar with technical methods allegedly used in cyber fraud.
Rohit Singh, who was reportedly associated with the network more recently, is the third person arrested.
Police are also searching for Amit Singh alias Jagdish, Rahul, KP and Ashish, who are reportedly absconding.
Investigators have identified Sultan Mirza alias Abhay Shukla alias John Sheena alias Valentine, who is allegedly based in Dubai, as an important contact. His precise role and links with the alleged network are still being investigated.
Why Are 23 Bank Employees Under Probe?
Police analysed conversations, messages and other digital records from the arrested accused dating back to 2024.
According to investigators, this analysis revealed contact with 23 officials and employees associated with several banks and financial institutions, including Bank of India, Canara Bank, DCB Bank, CSB Bank, Punjab National Bank, Axis Bank, HDFC Bank, Punjab National Bank, Overseas Bank, Ujjivan Finance, Jana Small Finance Bank and Airtel Payments Bank, among others.
Police suspect that some employees may have helped facilitate account openings, banking transactions or account-related problems faced by the alleged network.
However, being in contact with an accused person does not by itself establish criminal involvement. Investigators will need to determine whether individual employees knowingly facilitated suspicious activity and whether there was any financial benefit or other involvement.
Notices May Be Issued to Bank Employees
Police are reportedly preparing to issue notices to the 23 bank employees as the investigation progresses.
Investigators are expected to examine their communication with the arrested accused, the bank accounts allegedly connected to them and the transactions carried out through those accounts.
Banking records and internal account-opening documents could help establish whether the employees were simply performing routine banking functions or knowingly assisting the alleged network.
₹23 Crore Transaction Record Recovered
A register containing details of transactions worth approximately ₹23 crore has reportedly been recovered during the investigation.
Police began examining the network after analysing 29 complaints registered on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (NCRP) and identifying links between reported frauds, mobile numbers and bank accounts.
Investigators have also alleged that approximately 40% of the fraud proceeds was paid as commission at different stages of the network.
Police are examining the transaction records to determine whether the ₹23 crore represents the complete financial activity of the arrested suspects or only a portion of the wider operation.
How Were Mule Accounts Used?
A mule account is a bank account used to receive or transfer money on behalf of another person, often to conceal the identity of the actual beneficiary.
In organised cyber fraud, criminals may avoid receiving stolen money directly. Instead, funds can pass through accounts belonging to other individuals before being transferred to additional accounts or withdrawn.
This creates multiple layers in the financial trail and can make it harder for investigators to immediately identify the people controlling the fraud.
Police suspect the Kanpur network allegedly played this intermediary role by arranging accounts and making them available to cybercriminals.
Was Money Sent to Dubai?
Investigators are examining allegations that money collected through the network was moved through bank accounts and alleged hawala channels before being transferred towards Dubai.
Police have identified the alleged Dubai-based contact as a key link, but the exact mechanism through which funds were allegedly moved overseas is still being investigated.
Financial records, communication data and account transactions will be important in establishing whether the suspected Dubai connection involved the movement of cyber fraud proceeds or other activities.
Cyber Fraud Network May Be Much Larger
The investigation has so far identified suspected transactions of around ₹23 crore. Police believe the figure could increase to approximately ₹100 crore after additional bank accounts and digital records are examined.
At the same time, investigators suspect that the wider network may have been involved in cyber fraud exceeding ₹5,000 crore across India.
The ₹5,000-crore figure is currently an investigative estimate and has not yet been established through the complete financial trail.
Police will need to match complaints, bank transactions, beneficiary accounts, digital communications and other evidence before determining the actual scale of the alleged network.
What Happens Next in the Investigation?
The next phase will focus on tracing the complete chain of bank accounts and identifying the people who allegedly controlled them.
Investigators are also examining mobile phone data, UPI transactions, banking records and alleged Dubai-based connections to identify additional members and determine where the suspected fraud proceeds ultimately went.
The role of the 23 bank employees will also be established through questioning and examination of banking records. Further arrests could follow if investigators find evidence linking additional individuals to the alleged cyber fraud network.
The case remains under investigation, and the eventual scale of the network and amount involved will depend on the evidence recovered during the probe.
About the author : Ananya Aradhya writes on cybercrime, fraud, scams, cybersecurity, digital safety, and emerging threats. Her work also covers major criminal cases, financial frauds, consumer scams, and stories that highlight risks affecting people in the real and digital world.
