Varanasi Cyber Crime Police have arrested 19 alleged members of an interstate fraud gang accused of running a fake multi-level marketing (MLM) and pyramid chain network under the guise of employment opportunities. The action was carried out under the Cyber Vazra (CY-Vazra) campaign, with police claiming that the gang lured unemployed youths with promises of ₹25,000 monthly jobs and allegedly collected money from them.
According to the police, the operation led to the rescue of around 300 trainees who had allegedly been brought into the network in the name of job opportunities. Police also recovered 20 mobile phones, a laptop, two luxury vehicles, cash, bank account details and corporate documents during the action.
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Fake Company Setup and Job Recruitment Trap
Investigators said the gang operated through a fake company named Mahadev Enterprises and used the franchise of Royal Health Wellness Private Limited to run an alleged MLM network. Police alleged that members contacted unemployed youths from different states, including Bihar, Jharkhand and Madhya Pradesh, promising office work, Tata company jobs and agricultural employment with a salary of ₹25,000 per month.
After bringing candidates to Varanasi, the accused allegedly created a corporate office-like environment and conducted interviews before collecting ₹30,000 to ₹35,000 per person as joining fees or registration charges. Police said candidates were allegedly given low-value kits containing items such as clothes, oil and soap in return.
According to the investigation, the accused allegedly used training sessions to influence recruits and encouraged them to bring relatives and friends into the network. Police claimed that members were pressured to add three new people each and were allegedly threatened with loss of salary or refund if they failed to do so.
Bank Trail Reveals Alleged Multi-Crore Transactions
Police identified Deepak Kumar Shah as the alleged main operator of the network. During the investigation of his SBI and HDFC Bank accounts, authorities found five complaints registered on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal related to alleged job fraud and UPI fraud, along with four written complaints from victims.
According to police, preliminary examination of the bank accounts showed credits of around ₹4 crore over a period of one year. Investigators said a detailed financial analysis is underway to trace the movement of funds and identify other possible links connected with the alleged fraud network.
The arrested individuals include accused persons from Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and other states. Police said the arrests were made following a coordinated operation by the Cyber Crime Police Station, Varanasi.
Police Recover Digital Evidence, Vehicles and Documents
During the operation, police recovered 20 smartphones containing alleged fraud-related chats and audio recordings, one ASUS laptop, two cars, ₹4,020 in cash, and approximately ₹1 lakh frozen in bank accounts. Investigators also seized corporate documents from the Mahadev Enterprises office.
Police said the recovered vehicles included a Grand Vitara and a Kia Carens, which were allegedly linked to the proceeds of the crime. Further investigation is being conducted to examine the role of other individuals and determine the complete extent of the alleged fraud.
Authorities have advised job seekers to verify employment offers before making payments and warned against schemes that demand registration fees, joining charges or recruitment of new members as a condition for earning income. The investigation is ongoing, and the allegations against the accused remain subject to judicial proceedings.
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.
