In a major breakthrough, police in Varanasi have arrested five members of an interstate cyber fraud syndicate accused of siphoning off ₹42.50 lakh from a local resident by deploying malicious mobile applications and manipulating Aadhaar-linked banking details.
The arrests were made following an investigation by the city’s cyber crime police station after a complaint was filed on December 8, 2025, by Madan Mohan Mishra, a resident of Tiwaripur village under Chaubepur police station limits. Mishra alleged that unknown cyber criminals had illegally accessed his bank account and withdrawn ₹42.50 lakh through unauthorised transactions.
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Based on the complaint, police registered a case under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Section 66D of the Information Technology Act. As the probe progressed, additional sections were invoked at the local police station to strengthen the case against the accused.
Investigators said a special team was constituted to trace the digital trail. Through electronic surveillance, technical analysis and tracking of suspicious bank transactions, the police zeroed in on a group operating from Dhanbad district in Jharkhand.
The accused have been identified as Shamim Ansari, Fakruddin alias Niranjan, Naseem Ansari, Shahbuddin Ansari and Sahab Lal Marandi, all residents of Dhanbad. Police said Shamim Ansari was the alleged gang leader coordinating the operation.
During the raids, police recovered four Android mobile phones, a SIM card, ₹66,000 in cash, a four-wheeler without a registration number, two notices issued under Section 41A of the CrPC by Delhi Police, a village head’s seal and five blank Aadhaar update forms. The recovered materials, investigators said, indicate a well-organised network with forged documentation used to facilitate financial fraud.
According to police findings, the gang circulated Trojan and SMS forwarder-based APK files to targeted victims. Once installed on a mobile device, these malicious applications allegedly enabled the accused to remotely access SMS messages, including one-time passwords (OTPs), and extract internet banking user IDs and passwords.
Using the stolen credentials, the accused reportedly transferred funds into mule bank accounts opened using manipulated identity documents. The money was then quickly withdrawn in cash to avoid detection.
Investigators further revealed that the syndicate forged village head letterheads and seals to illegally alter address details on Aadhaar cards. With the help of blank Aadhaar update forms, they allegedly generated modified identity documents, which were then used to open multiple bank accounts across different financial institutions.
Police officials said the use of forged Aadhaar credentials to create mule accounts reflects a growing trend in organised cybercrime, where identity manipulation and digital tools are combined to execute large-scale frauds.
The accused are being interrogated to ascertain whether they were involved in similar cases in other states and to identify additional accomplices or beneficiaries of the racket. Police are also examining financial transaction records to trace the flow of funds and determine if the proceeds were routed to other networks.
Authorities have urged citizens to remain cautious while downloading mobile applications or clicking on unknown links. Officials warned that APK files received through messaging platforms or forwarded by unknown sources may contain malicious software capable of compromising banking and personal data.
The five accused have been sent to judicial custody, and further investigation is underway to uncover the full extent of the network’s operations and any interstate or international links.
Police said efforts are being intensified to identify victims who may have been targeted using similar methods and to prevent further misuse of forged identity documents in financial fraud cases.
About the author – Ayesha Aayat is a law student and contributor covering cybercrime, online frauds, and digital safety concerns. Her writing aims to raise awareness about evolving cyber threats and legal responses.
