UT Cybercrime Police Arrest Four in ₹54 Lakh Multi-State Cyber-Fraud Targeting Businessman

Cybercrime Police Arrest Four in ₹54 Lakh Multi-State Fraud Case

The UT Cybercrime Police have arrested four individuals in connection with a sophisticated cyber-fraud that targeted a Chandigarh-based businessman, resulting in a financial loss of over ₹54 lakh. The accused are allegedly part of a multi-state cybercrime syndicate.

The case was registered on April 17 following a complaint by Manish Aggarwal, a steel businessman from Chandigarh, who had applied for a Toyota dealership. Shortly after his application, Aggarwal received calls and emails from fraudsters impersonating senior officials of Toyota Kirloskar Motors. Using forged email IDs and fake mobile numbers, the accused convinced him that his dealership application had been approved.

To make the communication appear legitimate, the fraudsters sent a forged Letter of Intent (LOI) on what appeared to be the company’s official letterhead. Believing the documents to be authentic, Aggarwal transferred ₹54,16,790 into two bank accounts provided by the fraudsters. Subsequent verification by Toyota Kirloskar Motors confirmed that the LOI and contact details were fraudulent, prompting a report to the cybercrime police station.

Following technical analysis of bank accounts, money flow, and digital footprints, investigators uncovered a network of mule accounts used to receive and launder the defrauded funds. Acting swiftly, police conducted raids in Ambarnath (West), Ulhasnagar, and Surat, with assistance from local authorities.

The arrested individuals are:

• Mubarak Ali Gafar Ali Shah (24) – Thane, Maharashtra

• Ankit Surendra Jha (25) – Thane, Maharashtra

• Santosh Kumar Yadav (29) – Surat, Gujarat

• Dharmendra Kumar (36) – Kalyan (East), Maharashtra

Police recovered multiple passbooks, ATM cards, SIM cards, and mobile phones, all of which were reportedly used to execute the fraudulent operations.

Investigation revealed that the syndicate operated with a structured modus operandi. The accused identified potential victims applying for business opportunities, impersonated corporate officials, and sent forged LOIs to establish credibility. Funds were then routed through layered mule accounts to obscure the money trail. Each individual played a distinct role within the network:

• Mubarak Ali – Opened and sold second-layer bank accounts for receiving fraud money.

• Ankit Jha – Acted as a middleman, procuring accounts and passing them to handlers.

• Santosh Yadav – Sourced bank accounts from unsuspecting individuals and managed SIM cards.

• Dharmendra Kumar – Purchased mule accounts and supplied them to the handler responsible for withdrawals.

During interrogation, the accused disclosed the identities of additional associates based in Jharkhand and Bihar, involved in mule account operations and cash withdrawals. CCTV footage from relevant banks corroborated the presence of further suspects.

The case has been registered under FIR number 35 dated April 17, in accordance with relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023. Authorities emphasized that the investigation is ongoing, with further custodial interrogation required to analyze digital devices, trace money trails, and identify remaining network members.

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