Cyber fraud racket busted in Purulia: Six arrested, ₹82 lakh scam exposed
Synopsis
A ₹82 lakh cyber fraud syndicate operating from a rented house in Purulia city has been cracked open — with police finding that half the stolen money flowed into a single bank account in Dhadka village. The gang's method of paying local youth to hand over bank accounts and ATM cards points to a sophisticated layering operation that stretched across West Bengal and Jharkhand.
Key Takeaways
Six people arrested in a cyber fraud crackdown in Purulia district, West Bengal on 3 September .
Total fraud amount stands at ₹82 lakh ; ₹40 lakh was traced to the account of primary accused Shyamal Baran Sahis of Dhadka village.
Other accused include civil engineer Ankit Singh and his brother, two Jharkhand residents, and Rocky Bauri from the Para police station area.
Police identified 217 bank accounts and multiple ATM counters during the investigation.
The gang allegedly lured local youth with cash to rent out their bank accounts and ATM cards to launder proceeds.
All six accused were produced in Purulia court ; police have sought custodial remand for further investigation.
A cyber fraud syndicate operating out of Purulia district in West Bengal has been dismantled, with six people arrested including two residents of Jharkhand, police confirmed on Thursday, 3 September. The bust follows a ₹82 lakh fraud case in which ₹40 lakh was traced directly to the bank account of the primary accused, Shyamal Baran Sahis, a resident of Dhadka village under Bandwan police station.
How the Racket Was Uncovered
The investigation began after Purulia police, conducting a special operation against cybercrime, registered suo motu cases at multiple locations including the Purulia Cyber Crime Police Station, where two such cases have been logged. During the probe, investigators identified 217 bank accounts and several ATM counters linked to suspicious transactions. A check of these accounts led police to Sahis, in whose account ₹40 lakh — nearly half the total fraud amount — had been deposited.
Who Was Arrested
Following the arrest and custodial interrogation of Sahis, police unravelled the broader network and detained five more individuals. Among those arrested is Ankit Singh, a civil engineer employed at a private company and a resident of Purulia city, along with his brother. Two others are residents of Jharkhand, and a young man identified as Rocky Bauri, from the Para police station area of Purulia, was also taken into custody. All six were produced before the Purulia court, where police applied for their remand for further interrogation.
Modus Operandi: Rented Accounts and Lured Youth
According to police, the gang operated from a rented house in Purulia city and allegedly recruited local youths by paying them to lend their bank accounts and ATM cards — a method increasingly used by cyber fraud rings to obscure money trails. The arrangement reportedly allowed the syndicate to layer and move funds across multiple accounts, complicating detection.
Ongoing Investigation
A district police officer stated, 'The arrested are being interrogated in custody on charges of involvement in cyber fraud. The officers are also looking for those who are involved in this gang.' Authorities have indicated that the special operation is continuing, with further arrests possible as investigators follow leads from the 217 bank accounts already flagged. This case is part of a wider crackdown on cybercrime networks that have increasingly used rural districts as operational bases to evade urban law enforcement.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Purulia cyber fraud case about?
Police in Purulia, West Bengal busted a cyber fraud ring and arrested six people after tracing ₹40 lakh of an ₹82 lakh fraud to the bank account of primary accused Shyamal Baran Sahis of Dhadka village. The gang allegedly operated from a rented house in Purulia city and used local youths' bank accounts to launder money.
Who are the six people arrested in the Purulia cyber fraud case?
The six arrested include Shyamal Baran Sahis (primary accused, Dhadka village), civil engineer Ankit Singh and his brother (both from Purulia city), two residents of Jharkhand, and Rocky Bauri from the Para police station area of Purulia. All were produced before the Purulia court.
How did the Purulia cyber fraud gang operate?
The gang rented a house in Purulia city and allegedly paid local youths to hand over their bank accounts and ATM cards, which were then used to receive and move fraud proceeds. Police identified 217 bank accounts and multiple ATM counters linked to the operation.
What action has the Purulia police taken so far?
Police registered suo motu cybercrime cases at the Purulia Cyber Crime Police Station, arrested six suspects, and applied for their custodial remand for further interrogation. A special operation against cybercrime is ongoing, and investigators are pursuing additional leads.
Are more arrests expected in the Purulia cyber fraud case?
Yes, according to a district police officer, investigators are actively looking for other members of the gang. The special operation is continuing, and the custodial interrogation of the six arrested suspects is expected to yield further leads.
