Could Partners Turn into Perpetrators? Cyber Gang's Feud Leads to Kidnapping and Arrest

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Cyber fraud is a growing concern in India.
- Individuals should be cautious about sharing bank account details.
- Police response to cybercrime needs to be swift and effective.
- Family disputes can escalate into serious criminal actions.
- Understanding the motives behind cybercrimes is crucial for prevention.
Bhubaneswar, Sep 7 (NationPress) The Commissionerate Police apprehended five individuals involved in cyber fraud and kidnapping on Sunday, revealed Bhubaneswar DCP Jagmohan Meena.
The suspects include 21-year-old Bhagban Sahu from the Maitri Vihar locality, Chiranjiv Rout (21), Amitarani Rout (50), and Akankhya Rout (21), all hailing from the Chandaka region of Bhubaneswar, along with 35-year-old Samir Kumar Bhuvey from Bihar Sharif in Nalanda district.
During a press briefing, DCP Meena disclosed that a family from Bhubaneswar had been opening bank accounts under their names and subsequently sharing those details with cybercriminals outside the state, serving as mule accounts for various cyber frauds.
This family connected with cybercriminal Samir Kumar in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh. “In this case, the Bhubaneswar family provided their account information to the Bihar-based criminal in exchange for a 1.4 percent commission. This led to widespread cyber fraud across India using the three bank accounts they supplied. The accounts were frozen multiple times due to detected lien amounts, prompting the bank to alert the family, which sparked a conflict with Samir Kumar,” explained Meena.
He further revealed that the Bhubaneswar family members—Chiranjiv, Amitarani, Bhagban, and Akankhya—concocted a scheme to lure Samir Kumar to Bhubaneswar under false pretenses. Upon his arrival, they kidnapped him and demanded a ransom of Rs 25 lakhs.
Fortunately, Samir Kumar managed to alert the hotel owner about his predicament. Following this, the Commissionerate Police launched a raid and arrested Chiranjiv, Amitarani, Akankhya, and the Bihar-based fraudster Samir Kumar in a slum area of the city.
DCP Meena noted that during interrogation, it was revealed that the suspects were part of the same cybercriminal syndicate. They had met in Prayagraj months earlier and agreed to share account details for a 1.4 percent commission from the fraud proceeds.
Additionally, the police uncovered transactions amounting to crores of rupees in the bank accounts belonging to the accused family members.