Odisha Police arrest 3 Assam cyber fraudsters in ₹8.5 lakh UCO Bank scam
Synopsis
Three Assam-based men — including a pharmacist who allegedly supplied mule bank accounts — have been arrested for draining ₹8.5 lakh from a 64-year-old retired bank employee in Bhubaneswar via a fake UCO Bank Life Certificate link. The trail leads straight to a Jamtara-based cyber fraud kingpin still at large, exposing a well-oiled interstate mule network spanning Assam and Jharkhand.
Key Takeaways
Bhubaneswar's Commissionerate Police arrested three Assam-based cyber fraudsters on 28 June 2025 .
The accused duped Bulu Dash , a 64-year-old retired bank employee , of ₹8,50,000 via a fake UCO Bank Life Certificate link.
Arrested accused: Harun Rashid (29) , Nagaon; Junaidur Islam (22) and Ejajul Hoque (23) , Morigaon — all from Assam.
The syndicate is linked to Kalim Ansari , a Jamtara-based cyber fraud operator wanted in a separate case.
Investigators traced the fraud through technical analysis, banking records , and KYC details revealing a mule bank account and SIM card network.
Remaining accused, including Ansari , are still at large; arrests are ongoing.
Bhubaneswar's Commissionerate Police on Sunday, 28 June 2025, arrested three Assam-based cyber fraudsters accused of swindling ₹8,50,000 from a 64-year-old retired bank employee in Bhubaneswar through a fake UCO Bank Life Certificate link. The arrests mark a significant breakthrough in an interstate cyber fraud syndicate stretching from Assam to the notorious Jamtara network in Jharkhand.
Who Was Arrested
The three accused, all from Assam, were identified as Harun Rashid (29) of Rupahihat, Nagaon district, and Junaidur Islam (22) and Ejajul Hoque (23), both of Laharighat, Morigaon district. The arrests were made in connection with case number 206/25 registered at the Cyber Crime and Economic Offence (CC & EO) Police Station in Bhubaneswar.
How the Fraud Unfolded
The victim, Bulu Dash of Trinath Bazar, Bhubaneswar, a retired bank employee, filed a complaint on 5 November 2025 alleging that the fraudsters first called him, posing as bank representatives offering to help update his Life Certificate for pension disbursal. On 3 November 2025, he received a message containing a fraudulent link purportedly from UCO Bank.
'After opening the link and submitting the required details as asked by the fraudsters, he received multiple OTPs. Subsequently, he discovered that Rs 8,50,000 had been fraudulently debited from his bank account through unauthorised online transactions,' a senior police official said. Dash reported the incident to the CC & EO Police Station, triggering a months-long technical and banking investigation.
The Syndicate Behind the Scam
Police investigation revealed an organised interstate operation involving mule bank accounts and SIM cards procured in different names to route the proceeds of crime. Accused Rashid, a pharmacist by profession, along with his associate Parvez Alam Choudhary — also a pharmacist — allegedly opened bank accounts and procured SIM cards before handing them over to Kalim Ansari, a Jamtara-based cyber fraud operator who is wanted in a separate case at the same police station.
Meanwhile, accused Hoque reportedly recruited mule bank account holders in Morigaon and worked with an individual identified as Ashraful, who allegedly controls the Assam network for procuring and supplying mule accounts.
Investigation Status and What Comes Next
Efforts are ongoing to apprehend the remaining accused, including the alleged Jamtara mastermind Ansari. The case highlights the growing nexus between Assam-based mule account networks and Jamtara-linked operators — a pattern investigators say is becoming increasingly common in eastern India cyber fraud cases. Authorities used technical analysis, banking records, and KYC details to trace the accused across state lines.
Point of View
Using Assam as a recruitment and logistics hub for mule accounts and SIM cards. What makes this case particularly troubling is the targeting of a retired bank employee seeking pension services: fraudsters are deliberately exploiting government welfare processes to identify and groom vulnerable, elderly victims. Odisha Police deserve credit for the interstate coordination, but the fact that the alleged mastermind, Ansari, remains free underscores how rarely cyber fraud investigations reach the top of the chain. Until kingpins face prosecution, arrests of foot soldiers will remain a game of whack-a-mole.
NationPress
28 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who are the three cyber fraudsters arrested by Odisha Police?
The three arrested accused are Harun Rashid (29) of Rupahihat in Nagaon district, and Junaidur Islam (22) and Ejajul Hoque (23) of Laharighat in Morigaon district, all from Assam. They were arrested on 28 June 2025 in connection with a cyber fraud case registered at the CC & EO Police Station in Bhubaneswar.
How was the Bhubaneswar resident defrauded?
Retired bank employee Bulu Dash , 64, received a fraudulent message on 3 November 2025 containing a fake link purportedly from UCO Bank for updating his Life Certificate for pension. After he clicked the link and entered his details, multiple OTPs were generated and ₹8,50,000 was debited from his account through unauthorised online transactions.
What is the Jamtara connection in this case?
Investigators found that the arrested accused are linked to Kalim Ansari , a Jamtara-based cyber fraud operator wanted in a separate case. Ansari allegedly received mule bank accounts and SIM cards procured by the Assam-based accused to route the proceeds of the crime.
What are mule bank accounts and why do cyber fraudsters use them?
Mule bank accounts are accounts opened in the names of third parties — often unknowing or paid individuals — used to receive and transfer stolen funds, making it harder for investigators to trace the money back to the actual fraudsters. In this case, accused Rashid and his associate allegedly procured such accounts and SIM cards before handing them to the Jamtara operator.
What is the current status of the investigation?
Three accused have been arrested and the investigation is ongoing. Police are actively working to apprehend remaining suspects, including the alleged Jamtara mastermind Kalim Ansari . The case is registered as case no. 206/25 at the CC & EO Police Station, Bhubaneswar.
