January 7, 2026 | Under the ongoing special अभियान against cybercrime, Sambhal Police have achieved a major breakthrough. The cyber police team has busted an organised gang involved in cheating people across the country through mule accounts and arrested five accused. Police investigations revealed that the network was spread across 11 states, including Uttar Pradesh, and was used to execute cyber fraud worth several lakhs of rupees.
During a press briefing held at the Reserve Police Lines auditorium in the Bahjoi Mandi Committee campus, police officials stated that based on data received from the Government of India’s Pratibimbh portal, the cyber police of Sambhal district were conducting an in-depth analysis of suspicious bank accounts. During the investigation, several such accounts were identified that were being used as mule accounts for cyber fraud.
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Following this, a case was registered at Bahjoi police station under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Information Technology Act. Five accused—Shahrukh, Salman, Aman, Guddu Raghav and Pawan, all residents of Bhawan village under Bahjoi police station—were arrested. All the accused have been sent to judicial custody.
Police also recovered four mobile phones used in the commission of cybercrime from the possession of the accused. Interrogation and analysis of bank records revealed that the accused had opened a total of 10 bank accounts in UP Gramin Bank, State Bank of India, Axis Bank, Bank of Baroda and Indian Bank. These accounts were used to route and withdraw money obtained through fraudulent activities.
When these bank accounts were verified on the NCRP (National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal), startling facts emerged. According to the police, 25 complaints were found registered against these accounts across 11 states, including Noida and other parts of Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Odisha, West Bengal, Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Gujarat, Assam and Rajasthan.
Preliminary scrutiny of these complaints confirmed cyber fraud amounting to approximately ₹12,22,500. Analysis of bank transactions showed total credits of around ₹17 lakh and withdrawals of nearly ₹16 lakh. At present, an amount of ₹1,18,000 remains in these accounts, which is also suspected to be linked to cyber fraud. Further investigation into this amount and related links is ongoing.
Police officials stated that the accused operated in an organised manner by hacking mobile phones of victims. They then contacted people from the victims’ contact lists, posing as close acquaintances, and cheated them by fabricating stories of illness, accidents or being stranded abroad, pressuring them to send money urgently.
In some cases, the accused also obtained victims’ photographs deceitfully and threatened to edit and circulate them in obscene form unless money was paid. Police said investigations are underway to identify other members of the gang and additional links, and more arrests are likely in the coming days.
Sambhal Police have appealed to citizens to remain vigilant against suspicious calls, messages or online transactions and to immediately report any suspected cyber fraud through the 1930 helpline or the NCRP portal.
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.
