NINE MEMBERS OF AN INTER-STATE CYBER FRAUD GANG ARRESTED

NINE MEMBERS OF AN INTER-STATE CYBER FRAUD GANG ARRESTED

19-OCT-ENG 11

RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

ARA---------------------------A joint team comprising the district’s cyber unit and the Sikarahatta Police has uncovered an inter-state gang involved in online fraud. The police conducted a raid in Charkhiya village—within the Sikarahatta Police Station area—and arrested nine members of the gang. Items recovered from them include 27 mobile phones, seven laptops, 34 SIM cards, 11 debit cards, and 22,000 rupees in cash—all used in their fraudulent activities. Additionally, APK files and active applications used for internet-based calling were discovered on the seized laptops and mobile phones. The gang defrauded people by promising 'Credit Protection Plans' (CPP/insurance) for durations of six months to one year. The gang also has connections to Delhi. Among those arrested, seven are from various districts in Bihar, one is from West Bengal, and one is from Delhi. Cyber ​​DSP Kumar shared these details during a press conference on Sunday. The DSP noted that further investigation is being conducted by the Sikarahatta Police. The police received information that some individuals were residing as tenants in the house of Rupam Patel—a resident of Charkhiya village, which falls under the local police station's jurisdiction—and that their activities were suspicious. Acting on this, the Sikarahatta police conducted a raid on Rupam Patel’s house. Several individuals were apprehended at the scene, along with various items, including laptops and mobile phones. An 'APK Editor' tool was found on their laptops. Active applications such as 'Studio' and 'MS Lite' were also discovered. Following this, all the individuals were interrogated. During the questioning, it was revealed that the primary motive for the murder was a property dispute. The victim’s brother-in-law (husband's elder brother) was in the process of selling a portion of the land. It was due to this dispute that Sumit Rai shot and killed her. On Wednesday morning, in Ward No. 7 of Avijhinv village—under the jurisdiction of the Garhani police station—Seema Devi (alias Phuljharo) was shot dead by her brother-in-law, Sumit Rai, while she was speaking on her mobile phone at home. She was struck by two bullets fired from very close range. In connection with this, the victim's brother, Vinay Chaudhary—a resident of Pokharahan village under the Chauri police station area—filed a formal complaint (FIR) against Sumit Rai, his wife Sanjhiya Devi, and their son Abhishek Kumar, alleging that they had murdered his sister over a property dispute.

The perpetrators also engaged in fraud by deceiving people into purchasing a 'Credit Card Protection Plan' for ₹2,499. Interrogations revealed that they would contact victims via regular or internet-based calls, tricking them into buying this plan and subsequently siphoning off money by obtaining their OTPs. The accused confessed that they had been operating from Kitari Sultan Nagar in Delhi since June 2026 and had arrived in Bhojpur only about 15–16 days ago. They would transfer the proceeds of their fraudulent activities into the digital wallets and bank accounts of their associates based in Delhi. Further legal action is being taken against the arrested cybercriminals, who include Abhishek (alias Vishnu) from Siwan district; Akhil Anand from Samastipur district; Nitesh Kumar Rai from Gopalganj district; Rajiv Das from West Bengal; Abhishek Kumar from Rohtas district; and Vivek Kumar, Ragham, Nijar Kumar, and Kaushal Kumar from Bhojpur district.