Bhubaneswar: The Commissionerate Police in Bhubaneswar busted a interstate cyber fraud gang with the arrest of its 12 members.
A large cache of electronic devices including nearly 60 mobile phones and two laptops, gift cards, lottery cards and other incriminating documents were seized from the cybercriminals, hailing primarily from Bihar’s Nalanda and Nawada districts, with a few from Kerala and one local resident. These items were allegedly used by the accused to cheat unsuspecting victims through various online platforms, digital applications, and fraudulent schemes.
According to police, the gang, notorious as ‘Katri Sarai Gang’ of Bihar, had been operating covertly for several months from a residence at Badagad here. They were nabbed on January 10 following a raid jointly conducted by Badagada police and Special Squad of the Commissionerate Police, following specific intelligence inputs about organised cyber fraud activities being run from the city.
Interrogation revealed that Debasish Tripathy, a web graphics designer from Bhubaneswar and Arjun Raj alias Bitu Raj, Bijay Kumar, and Pankaj Kumar, all residents of Bihar, were the masterminds of the fraud.
The gang employed three primary modus operandito cheat victims across the country:
1. Gift Voucher / Prize Win Scam
Debasish Tripathy designed fake scratch cards, gift vouchers, lucky coupons, offer letters, and even Facebook pages to lure victims. These materials promised winnings worth lakhs or expensive vehicles. Letters were printed in Bhubaneswar, transported to Kolkata by bus, and mailed via speed post. Upon contact, victims were asked to pay “registration fees” ranging from Rs 5,500 to Rs 12,000 via UPI/QR codes to mule accounts.
2. Loan Approval Fraud
Fraudsters advertised low-interest loans from reputed companies like Mudra Finance, India Bulls, and Bajaj Finance on Facebook. Victims who inquired were required to pay phased “processing fees,” GST, or taxes (Rs 1,500–Rs 2,500 per stage) before any loan disbursement.
3. Kerala Lottery Scam
Fake Kerala Lottery ads were circulated on social media. Victims initially paid a nominal Rs 49 ticket fee via UPI. Later, Kerala-origin members of the gang (who spoke Malayalam) called to falsely inform them of huge winnings (e.g., Rs 10 lakh), demanding 10% as tax or clearance fees (Rs 10,000–Rs 15,000), followed by more payments for additional “formalities.”
The accused sourced customer databases from e-commerce platforms like Meesho and Naptol through agents in Bihar. They also procured fake pre-activated SIM cards using forged documents and used mule bank accounts for transferring funds. Victims’ bank details and UPI handles were collected and shared to facilitate fraudulent transfers.
Police described the operation as highly organised and secretive, with the gang using the Bhubaneswar house as a base to evade detection. They have been booked under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including 318(2), 318(4), 319(2), 336(2), 336(3), 338, 340(2), and 3(5), along with Section 66D of the Information Technology Act.
Further investigation is underway to verify additional criminal activities and identify any more accomplices.
