New Delhi: The Intelligence Fusion and Strategic Operations (IFSO) Unit of the Special Cell of Delhi Police has busted a seven-member cyber fraud network operating from Rajasthan, making a breakthrough in a case involving the alleged unauthorised takeover of a bank account and 149 fraudulent transactions amounting to approximately Rs 3.93 crore.
The network was involved in arranging mule bank accounts, withdrawing cash and transferring suspected proceeds of crime through multiple layers, the accused revealed to the police upon arrest. They used foreign phone numbers and USDT cryptocurrency conversions to launder illegal cash.
The seven individuals arrested include Piyush Talaniya (19), Brij Lal (29), Vipin Chanwariya (19), Sunil (23), Vikram (23), Rakesh Bahadu (26) and Hemant Singh (23).
One of the accused, Brij Lal, was also allegedly involved in a “boss scam” involving fraud of Rs 95 lakh, and had links to a foreign money-exchange application and a hawala channel used for the suspected conversion and movement of proceeds of crime.
The police recovered 45 cheque books, 25 bank passbooks, 45 ATM Cards and 13 mobile phones. The recovered articles are relevant to the investigation into the alleged use of bank accounts, movement of funds and possible links among the persons involved. Their evidentiary significance is being examined, the police said.
“Further investigation is in progress to unearth the syndicate involved in the alleged USDT transactions, money-exchange application and hawala channel, linkage of recovered articles and data with other crimes etc,” DCP (IFSO) Gaurav Tyagi said.
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The probe
An FIR was registered on 5 October at Police Station Special Cell/IFSO, New Delhi under Sections 318(4) (cheating and dishonestly inducing the delivery of property), 319 (cheating by personation), 340 (forged documents or electronic records and using them as genuine), 61(2) (criminal conspiracy) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita on the complaint of Prince Bansal (28), who deals in NBFC and loan-related transactions and maintains a bank account with ICICI Bank. He reported that on 5 October, at around 11 am, “149 unauthorised transactions took place in his bank account without his knowledge or consent”.
According to the police, Rs 3,93,59,000, or approximately Rs 3.93 crore, was debited from the account. The National Cybercrime Reporting Portal marked a lien/hold amount of Rs 1.78 crore. A lien or hold amount is a specific portion of the bank account balance that is temporarily blocked, preventing withdrawal or transfers, for various reasons including cybercrime or dispute complaints.
The complaint prompted an investigation into the unauthorised transactions and movement of funds. Teams were constituted to trace the money trail and identify the persons involved. The probe took them to Bikaner, Jodhpur and other locations in Rajasthan.
The operation involved extensive fieldwork, examination of bank transactions, verification of suspected account holders, development of local intelligence and identification of links between the persons allegedly involved in movement and withdrawal of funds. Through sustained efforts and coordinated investigative action, the team developed crucial leads and identified the alleged roles of several account holders and facilitators in the financial chain, police said.
They made a breakthrough when Brij Lal, who was wanted in another cyber fraud case of IFSO, was apprehended. “His apprehension has contributed to the investigation of both cases and helped uncover further links in the suspected network,” said the police in a statement. Proceedings under Section 84 (proclamation for person absconding) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita are now pending before court.
How the fraud was executed
The accused allegedly used unauthorised account access, resulting in 149 unauthorised transactions. The suspected proceeds of crime were transferred through multiple layers of bank accounts allegedly arranged or operated by different persons to complicate the tracing of funds, the police found in its probe.
“Certain accused allegedly withdrew substantial amounts from the mule accounts and handed the cash over to other persons in the network. Some accused allegedly arranged or facilitated the use of bank accounts belonging to themselves, or other persons for routing the suspected proceeds of crime,” the police said.
Investigation into Brij Lal’s role revealed alleged connections with a “money-exchange application identified as ‘U Home’ and a hawala channel reportedly used for the onward movement and conversion of funds into USDT”.
“During interrogation, Brij Lal allegedly disclosed that cash was handed over to a person in Khanna on the instructions of a hawala operator. This aspect is being investigated further,” the police added.
Explaining the role of each individual, the police said that Talaniya, a resident of Bikaner, was identified as the holder of a second-layer mule bank account. Rs 9.5 lakh was allegedly withdrawn from this account and handed over to co-accused Brij Lal, a resident of Phalodi district.
“During interrogation, he allegedly disclosed that he held a wallet ID on the ‘U Home’ money-exchange application and was connected through mobile number +85254885189 with a Foreign cyber network. He allegedly received suspected proceeds of crime in mule accounts, withdrew cash and used it to purchase USDT through a hawala operator,” said the police.
He further disclosed that cash was handed over to a person in Khanna on the hawala operator’s instructions.
Further, various mule bank accounts were found in the name of Chanwariya, also a resident of Bikaner, and transactions with accounts associated with Talaniya were detected. During investigation, he disclosed that on 12 October, he withdrew Rs 7 lakh on Brij Lal’s instructions and handed the cash over to him.
Police also found various mule bank accounts in Sunil’s name. His alleged role in facilitating the movement of funds and his links with other accused are being investigated. Vikram allegedly facilitated mule bank accounts for Brij Lal, including accounts belonging to co-accused Hemant Singh. His role in arranging and facilitating the use of these accounts is being investigated.
Mule bank accounts in Bahadu’s name and transactions with accounts associated with Talaniya were identified during the investigation. His alleged role in facilitating the transfer or withdrawal of suspected proceeds of crime is being examined.
Hemant Singh allegedly facilitated mule bank accounts for Brij Lal. The accounts associated with him and his links with the other accused are being examined to establish the extent of his alleged involvement.
(Edited by Mannat Chugh)
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