Raipur Police, under their ongoing Operation Cyber Shield, arrested Rahul Yadav (27) from Jaunpur, Uttar Pradesh, and Kajal Yadav (28) from Bhatapara in Baloda Bazar, Chhattisgarh. The arrests came after both were found to be operating multiple bank accounts used for routing proceeds from online fraud.
The duo had allegedly transferred over ₹3 crore through various bank accounts, with a registered case in the Kotwali Police Station confirming a direct fraud of ₹19 lakh. According to investigators, the arrested individuals were part of a wider network and frequently changed their locations to evade detection. Rahul was reportedly operating from cities such as Chennai, Ahmedabad, and Jalna (Maharashtra), ensuring money laundering through mule accounts.
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Friendship to Fraud: How a Facebook Connection Turned Criminal
The investigation revealed a troubling pattern of digital grooming. Rahul Yadav contacted Kajal via Facebook, initially establishing a friendly rapport. Over time, he convinced her to participate in a seemingly easy way to “earn from home” by transferring funds through bank accounts in exchange for commission.
Kajal, unaware of the full scope initially, began receiving 15% commission on every transaction routed through her account. Encouraged by the earnings, she later met Rahul in person, where he explained the broader modus operandi of the cyber fraud. From that point, both began operating mule accounts jointly, helping cybercriminals funnel stolen money.
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Police Trace Links to Bigger Cybercrime Syndicate
Police have confirmed that Rahul Yadav was acting under instructions from another individual based in Bhopal, who appears to be orchestrating a larger cybercrime network. Efforts are now underway to identify and apprehend this handler. Investigators suspect that the handler was using mule account operators like Rahul and Kajal to facilitate seamless transactions and prevent direct links to primary fraudsters.
The police also noted that the suspects maintained a low profile and frequently shifted cities to avoid surveillance. The accounts were used to move illicit funds quickly and were later either emptied or abandoned.
With both suspects now in custody, Raipur Police are hopeful this arrest will lead to further breakthroughs in uncovering the digital fraud ecosystem that’s targeting unsuspecting victims across India.