Balangir Police Crack Down on Major Cyber Fraud Syndicate
In a significant breakthrough, Balangir police have apprehended two individuals accused of orchestrating a large-scale digital fraud operation. The racket is alleged to have funneled more than Rs 5 crore through a network of mule bank accounts over the past seven months, marking one of the region's most substantial cybercrime busts.
Arrests and Accused Details
The arrested men have been identified as Debasis Kanti, aged 31, and Ranjan Kabat, aged 21, both residents of Chudapali village under the Sadar police station jurisdiction. Police officials stated that the duo played a pivotal role in establishing an extensive network of mule accounts, which were used to channel illicit funds from various cyber frauds.
Investigation and Police Action
The operation was initiated following directives from the Director General of Police (DGP), with a specialized team including cyber cell officers taking charge. DIG (northern range) Himanshu Lal emphasized that the gang utilized mule bank accounts belonging to unsuspecting individuals in Balangir to launder money from multiple cyber fraud schemes. He noted that the full extent and specifics of the fraud are still under investigation.
Balangir SP Abilash G explained that the probe began after authorities detected suspicious, high-value transactions. Upon contacting the alleged account holders, many claimed ignorance about the accounts but admitted to providing their documents to the accused for unspecified work. This trail led police to Debasis and Ranjan, who reportedly supplied mule accounts to the syndicate in exchange for commissions.
Mechanics of the Fraud
Police detailed that mule accounts serve as intermediaries for cybercriminals. Victims are tricked into transferring money to these accounts under the guise of legitimate transactions. Subsequently, local agents withdraw the funds, facilitating the laundering process. Investigators uncovered that Debasis collaborated closely with a West Bengal-based handler, Nirbhaya Gupta, to supply hundreds of fraudulent bank accounts to cybercrime networks. Gupta is believed to be part of a larger interstate gang, and efforts are ongoing to apprehend him and other associates.
Additionally, Debasis enlisted his associate Soumya Ranjan to acquire and create mule accounts used for laundering money from online scams, including investment frauds, task-based schemes, fake loan applications, and customer-support impersonation scams.
Evidence Seized and Ongoing Efforts
A raid on the accused's premises yielded a substantial cache of evidence, underscoring the scale of the operation. The seizure includes:
- 29 bank passbooks
- 15 cheque books
- 10 debit cards
- A POS terminal
- 8 mobile phones
- 5 SIM cards
- A car suspected to have been used in illegal activities
Investigators highlighted that Debasis acted as a crucial link between local account providers and larger cybercrime networks based in Bengal. A police team has been dispatched to Bengal to trace and arrest other members of the syndicate. A detailed financial trail analysis is currently underway to determine the final destination of the illegal proceeds and identify all beneficiaries.
This case underscores the growing threat of digital fraud and the importance of vigilant law enforcement in combating such crimes. Authorities continue to urge the public to exercise caution with personal documents and online transactions to prevent similar scams.
