The Kanpur Crime Branch has uncovered an alleged cyber fraud network with links to Dubai, arresting three people from the Fazalganj area accused of arranging Indian bank accounts for cybercriminals operating abroad, accounts allegedly used to receive and move money obtained through fraud.
The Scale of What's Been Found So Far
Investigators have reportedly recovered records showing transactions involving approximately ₹23 crore in suspected fraud proceeds, though police suspect further examination of bank accounts and digital records could push the identified amount closer to ₹100 crore. The broader network is suspected of being linked to cyber fraud exceeding ₹5,000 crore, a figure that, if borne out by the investigation, would mark this as a genuinely major operation rather than an isolated local scheme.
The three arrested so far have been identified as Kapil Verma alias Shanty, Abhay Pratap, and Rohit Singh, with police continuing to search for other alleged network members, including a person described as the suspected mastermind.
How the Alleged Network Reportedly Worked
According to investigators, the operation centred on arranging bank accounts that cyber fraudsters could use to receive money from victims. People were allegedly persuaded to open accounts in their own names under false pretences, government scheme benefits, financial services, or other banking facilities, with those accounts then allegedly handed over to the network. Fraud proceeds were reportedly deposited into these accounts before being moved through multiple accounts and payment channels, a layering process police believe was designed to distance the actual fraudsters from victims' money and make the financial trail harder to trace.
A Suspected Dubai Connection
Investigators suspect a portion of the alleged fraud proceeds moved through hawala and other informal channels toward Dubai. During questioning, police reportedly encountered claims that around 40% of the fraud proceeds were paid onward as commission at various stages of the network. The exact amount transferred abroad, and who ultimately benefited from it, hasn't been established yet, police are working through bank transactions, digital communications, and other records to reconstruct the alleged money trail more fully.
Why 23 Bank Employees Are Under Scrutiny
One of the more notable threads in this investigation is alleged contact between the arrested suspects and 23 bank officials and employees. Police say examination of call records, chats, and alleged call recordings dating back to 2024 revealed communication between the accused and employees linked to several banks, including Bank of India, Canara Bank, Punjab National Bank, HDFC Bank, Axis Bank, DCB Bank, Overseas Bank, Ujjivan, and Airtel Payments Bank.
Investigators suspect some employees may have helped open or operate suspicious accounts, or resolved account-related issues, in exchange for commissions. It's important to be clear here: simply being in contact with an accused person doesn't establish criminal involvement. Police will still need to determine whether any specific employee knowingly facilitated the alleged fraud and whether any financial or other benefit was actually involved before drawing conclusions about individual culpability.
Who's Been Arrested, and Who's Still Being Sought
Kapil Verma, alias Shanty, originally from Fatehpur but reportedly living in the Kanpur area, has been identified as a key operator in the alleged network. Abhay Pratap, a resident of Sadh who holds a science degree, is being examined for whether his technical background was used in handling aspects of the operation. Rohit Singh has also been arrested and is being questioned about his role and connections to other members.
Police are actively searching for Abhay Shukla, alias Sultan Mirza, alias John Cena, described as the alleged mastermind, along with four other suspected members, Amit Singh alias Jagdish, Rahul, KP, and Ashish, all currently absconding.
How the Investigation Began
The Crime Branch reportedly started tracing this network after examining 29 complaints registered on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (NCRP/NCRB). Investigators then began connecting these complaints to suspicious bank accounts, mobile numbers, and digital communications associated with the suspects, financial and digital mapping that ultimately led police to the alleged account-arranging network operating out of Kanpur.
What Comes Next
The recovered register and digital records detailing roughly ₹23 crore in transactions are now being cross-examined alongside bank statements and other digital evidence, work aimed at identifying where the money originated, which accounts it passed through, and who ultimately received it. Investigators suspect this figure may represent only a fraction of the network's overall financial activity, meaning the true scale of the operation could become clearer only as the probe continues.
FAQs
Q1. How large is the suspected fraud network in this case?
Investigators have recovered records of approximately ₹23 crore in transactions so far, but suspect the broader network could be linked to cyber fraud exceeding ₹5,000 crore.
Q2. How did the alleged network reportedly operate?
By persuading people to open bank accounts under false pretences, then using those accounts to receive and move cyber fraud proceeds through multiple channels to obscure the money trail.
Q3. Why are 23 bank employees under suspicion?
Call records and communications reportedly show contact between the arrested suspects and employees at several banks, though police stress this alone doesn't establish criminal involvement, further investigation is needed to determine actual roles.
Q4. How many people have been arrested, and who's still at large?
Three people, Kapil Verma, Abhay Pratap, and Rohit Singh, have been arrested. Five others, including the alleged mastermind Abhay Shukla, remain absconding