Cyberfraudsters land in police net after duping 61-year-old man of Rs 33 lakh

He was apprehended at midnight from Mohanlalganj, Lucknow on December 15 during a raid.

Delhi Police dismantled a sophisticated cyber-hawala syndicate operating from Lucknow. (File)

From a rented hideout in Lucknow, shell companies, cryptocurrency routes, and a hawala network were being allegedly used by a bunch of cyber fraudsters, the Delhi Police said on Monday. The group came under the police radar after allegedly siphoning off over ₹33 lakh from a 61-year-old man. The Delhi Police have nabbed three people in the case, including a man who has been accused in a drug case before — he also sheltered the key operative.

According to the police, Deepanshu, the key operative, and two other accused were all involved in creating shell entities and operating bank accounts to launder money duped via fraudulent online investment schemes. “During the course of a meticulous technical and financial investigation, it was established that the cheated amount was systematically routed through multiple bank accounts operated through shell entities, prominently linked to a fictitious firm namely,” DCP (Cyber Cell, Crime) Aditya Gautam said.

The Cyber Cell began investigating the fraudsters, said officers, after a 61-year-old man was cheated of Rs 33,10,000 through a fraudulent online investment scheme. Analysis of the banking trail established that an amount of Rs 10,68,000 was directly credited into accounts associated with the fictitious firm, according to police.

Two key accused were earlier arrested from Delhi, who, during sustained questioning, disclosed the involvement of Deepanshu as a key operative and facilitator of the cyber-hawala syndicate. Deepanshu was found absconding. He was apprehended at midnight from Mohanlalganj, Lucknow on December 15 during a raid.

Deepanshu, the police said, was operating under the directions of handlers who instructed him to arrange dummy directors, create shell companies and open bank accounts in connivance with bank officials. “He revealed that the cheated funds were layered through shell entities including CSP24SEVEN Technologies and Levin Fintech, and thereafter siphoned off through hawala channels and cryptocurrency routes,” DCP Gautam said.

He also admitted that after coming to know about the arrest of co-accused Lakshay, he deliberately destroyed cheque books and the SIM card linked with the fake firm with the intention to cause disappearance of evidence, the police said.

While conducting surveillance in Mohanlalganj, the team received credible intelligence inputs regarding the presence of another wanted criminal, Rishab Singh, who was absconding in an NDPS case registered at Special Cell police station, Delhi. “After a continuous and sustained chase lasting approximately 24 hours, the team successfully apprehended both accused Deepanshu and wanted NDPS offender Rishab Singh from Mohanlalganj, Lucknow,” DCP Gautam said.

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During preliminary verification, it was revealed that Rishab Singh had arranged and rented the accommodation in Lucknow where Deepanshu was residing while absconding. “The said arrangement was made with the clear intent of providing shelter and logistical support to evade arrest, thereby facilitating concealment from law enforcement agencies,” a police officer said.

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