The police in Bihar discovered a sum exceeding Rs 1.05 crore in cash and a significant amount of jewelry at the residence of a tea vendor in Gopalganj. They apprehended two siblings who are allegedly part of an interstate cybercrime syndicate. Acting on a tip-off, authorities conducted a search at a property in Amaithi Khurd village on the late evening of Friday, October 17. The operation led to the recovery of Rs 1,05,49,850 in cash, 344 grams of gold, 1.75 kg of silver, and various items associated with online scams.
Cyber DSP Avantika Dilip Kumar disclosed that the seized items included 85 ATM cards, 75 bank passbooks, 28 chequebooks, Aadhaar cards, two laptops, three mobile phones, and a luxury vehicle.
Transitioning from running a modest tea stall, the main suspect, Abhishek Kumar, reportedly transitioned into the cyber fraud realm. Allegedly, he relocated to Dubai to oversee illicit activities, while his brother Aditya Kumar managed transactions and operations in India. Investigations indicate that the gang funneled illegally obtained funds into multiple bank accounts, subsequently converting them into cash.
Authorities suspect that the criminal network may have connections beyond Bihar, potentially linking to other states. Efforts are underway to trace additional individuals associated with the syndicate.
Initial examinations unveiled that a majority of the seized bank passbooks were issued in Bengaluru, prompting a broader probe involving multiple states. Officials are exploring potential ties of these accounts to a nationwide cyber network.
Following the raid, teams from the Income Tax Department and the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) have joined the inquiry to ascertain the source of funds and potential ties to organized cybercrime.
The detained brothers, Abhishek Kumar and Aditya Kumar, have been undergoing interrogation for two consecutive days. Authorities are scrutinizing the data retrieved from seized devices to identify other members of the network.
Cyber DSP Avantika Dilip Kumar stated, “The operation was executed based on confidential intelligence. Seized assets include over Rs 1.05 crore in cash, jewelry valued at lakhs, and multiple bank records linked to cyber fraud. Two suspects have been apprehended, with further investigations ongoing.”