NIA chargesheets Cambodia human trafficking mastermind, 4 others in cyber slavery case
Synopsis
The NIA has chargesheeted five people, including absconding kingpin Anand Kumar Singh, who allegedly sold Indian youths to Cambodian scam compounds for $2,000–$3,000 each. Victims faced electric shocks and forced confinement — a grim window into a transnational cyber-slavery network that Indian agencies are still working to fully dismantle.
Key Takeaways
The NIA filed a chargesheet against five accused , including absconding mastermind Anand Kumar Singh alias Munna Singh , before the NIA Special Court in Patna .
Three accused — Abhay Nath Dubey , Abhiranjan Kumar , and Rohit Yadav — were arrested in February 2025 after returning from Cambodia .
Singh allegedly charged $2,000–$3,000 per victim 'sold' to fraudulent companies in Cambodia.
Victims reportedly faced electric shocks , forced confinement , and denial of food and water if they resisted.
The investigation, registered as Case RC 10/2024/NIA/DLI , is continuing to trace remaining syndicate members.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has filed a chargesheet against five accused, including absconding kingpin Anand Kumar Singh alias Munna Singh, in a Cambodia-linked human trafficking and cyber slavery case, officials said on Saturday, 16 May. The chargesheet was filed before the NIA Special Court in Patna, Bihar, under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code.
Key Accused and Arrests
Three of the five accused — Abhay Nath Dubey of Uttar Pradesh, Abhiranjan Kumar of Bihar, and Rohit Yadav of Uttar Pradesh — were arrested in February 2025 upon their return to New Delhi from Cambodia. A fifth accused, Prahlad Kumar Singh, is currently out on bail. Anand Kumar Singh, identified as the mastermind, remains at large.
How the Trafficking Syndicate Operated
According to the NIA, the accused were part of an organised trafficking syndicate that lured Indian youths to Cambodia with promises of legitimate employment and attractive salaries. Once the victims arrived, their passports were allegedly confiscated and they were forced to work for fraudulent scam companies operating in the country.
Anand Kumar Singh reportedly recruited victims through a network of sub-agents and travel agents across India, working in close coordination with associates based in Cambodia. He allegedly charged between $2,000 and $3,000 for each youth 'sold' to a fake company.
Torture and Forced Confinement
The NIA stated that victims who resisted were subjected to severe mental and physical abuse. According to investigators, this included electric shocks, forceful confinement, and deliberate denial of food and water. The agency described the treatment as systematic coercion designed to prevent escape or resistance.
Investigation Status
The NIA confirmed that the probe — registered as Case RC 10/2024/NIA/DLI — is ongoing, with investigators continuing to trace other members of the syndicate and unravel the full extent of the conspiracy. This case is part of a broader NIA push against transnational organised crime networks exploiting Indian migrant workers in Southeast Asia.
Notably, this chargesheet comes just two days after the NIA filed a 7,500-page chargesheet against 10 accused in connection with a deadly car bomb explosion near the Red Fort area of New Delhi on 10 November 2025, which killed 11 people and injured several others. That high-intensity Vehicle-Borne Improvised Explosive Device (VBIED) blast triggered a nationwide security alert.
Point of View
But the most telling detail is what it reveals about the syndicate's business model: Indian youths were priced like commodities at $2,000–$3,000 a head, routed through legitimate-looking travel networks. The NIA's case exposes how cyber-fraud operations in Southeast Asia have industrialised human trafficking, using India's unemployment anxieties as a recruitment funnel. With the kingpin still absconding, the chargesheet also underscores a persistent gap in transnational enforcement — India can prosecute the foot soldiers, but extraditing or apprehending the architects operating from abroad remains a structural challenge that no single chargesheet resolves.
NationPress
5 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Anand Kumar Singh alias Munna Singh?
Anand Kumar Singh, also known as Munna Singh, is the alleged kingpin of a Cambodia-linked human trafficking and cyber slavery syndicate. According to the NIA, he recruited Indian youths through sub-agents and travel agents across India and allegedly charged $2,000–$3,000 for each victim trafficked to fraudulent companies in Cambodia. He is currently absconding.
What is the Cambodia cyber slavery case about?
The case involves an organised syndicate that lured Indian youths to Cambodia with false promises of legitimate jobs. Once there, victims had their passports confiscated and were forced to work for scam companies. Those who resisted reportedly faced electric shocks, forced confinement, and denial of food and water.
Who has been arrested in the NIA Cambodia trafficking case?
Three accused — Abhay Nath Dubey from Uttar Pradesh, Abhiranjan Kumar from Bihar, and Rohit Yadav from Uttar Pradesh — were arrested in February 2025 after arriving in New Delhi from Cambodia. A fifth accused, Prahlad Kumar Singh, is out on bail. The alleged mastermind, Anand Kumar Singh, remains at large.
Where was the chargesheet filed and under what case number?
The NIA filed the chargesheet before the NIA Special Court in Patna, Bihar, under case number RC 10/2024/NIA/DLI. The accused were charged under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code.
Is the NIA investigation in this case complete?
No. The NIA has confirmed that the investigation is ongoing, with agencies continuing to trace other syndicate members and fully map the conspiracy. The chargesheet against the five accused is part of a larger, continuing probe.
