Major International Cyber Fraud Network Busted in Hanumangarh, Key Operative Arrested
In a significant crackdown on cross-border cybercrime, the Hanumangarh police have successfully dismantled a sophisticated international cyber fraud gang with connections to Pakistan. The operation, conducted on Monday, led to the arrest of one of its key members, Hardeep Singh, through the Cyber Police Station in Hanumangarh.
Substantial Financial Irregularities and Evidence Seized
During the investigation, police detected suspicious transactions amounting to approximately Rs 3.26 crore in bank accounts linked to the accused. The authorities recovered a substantial cache of evidence, including 26 bank passbooks, eight chequebooks, 18 ATM cards, eight SIM cards, and three mobile phones. Furthermore, it was revealed that 36 cyber fraud complaints from 14 different states were registered against the bank accounts associated with the accused, highlighting the extensive reach of this criminal network.
Operation Cyber Clean and Investigative Breakthrough
The crackdown was executed under "Operation Cyber Clean" on the directives of Inspector General of Police, Bikaner Range, Hemant Sharma. Hanumangarh SP Harishankar spearheaded the operation, which uncovered that a resident of Dabli Rathan village, under the Sadar police station, was renting out bank accounts and facilitating online fraud in collusion with handlers based in Pakistan.
Following a report from account holder Rajpal Singh, case No. 01/2026 was registered under sections 318(4), 316(2), and 61(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. Acting swiftly on orders for an early arrest, a team led by Raghuveer Singh Bika, SHO Cyber Police Station, and Sub-Inspector Rajpal Singh apprehended Hardeep Singh.
Cross-Border Modus Operandi and Legal Proceedings
Police recovered documents linked to Pakistan from the accused, and the investigation revealed that Hardeep Singh provided Indian bank accounts and SIM cards to the Pakistan-based cyber fraud gang. The illicit money obtained through cyber fraud was deposited into these accounts, converted into electronic currency (USDT), and subsequently transferred to gang members across the border.
The accused was produced before the Joint Interrogation Centre (JIC) at the CID Zone Office in Sriganganagar and has been remanded to police custody until February 6. Police have confirmed that further investigation into his Pakistani contacts and the broader fraud network is actively underway.
Fraudulent Tactics and Victim Targeting
SP Harishankar detailed the gang's deceptive methods, explaining that they targeted victims through fake advertisements on Facebook and Instagram. These included offers of cheap goods and false claims of victim assistance under the guise of charitable organizations. The defrauded money was then systematically shared among the gang members, underscoring the organized nature of their criminal activities.
