In Raipur, Chhattisgarh, the police have unraveled a massive cyber fraud and money laundering network under Operation Cyber Shield, which involved hundreds of fake bank accounts operated through apps controlled by Chinese operators.
Under the directive of Inspector General (IG) Amresh Mishra, the Raipur Range Cyber Police arrested four suspects from Odisha, Gujarat, Bilaspur, and Raipur and uncovered crucial evidence linked to international cyber gangs.
After detecting suspicious transactions worth crores across more than 500 bank accounts, the police made these arrests. The accused are identified as Gajasinh Suna (32) from Odisha, Bhikhu Sachdev (32) from Gujarat, Sahil Kaushik (23) from Bilaspur, and Harshit Sharma (18) from Raipur. All have been sent to judicial custody.
During the operation, the police raided two locations in the Gol Chowk, Daganva, and Katora Talab areas, where fake offices were operating under the names Jeevan Jodi, Royal Rishtey, and e-Rishta. They seized 50 mobile phones, 10 desktop computers, numerous SIM cards, and kits of 60 bank accounts. The offices were subsequently sealed.
According to the police, the accused created fake matrimonial websites such as www.erishtaa.com, www.jeevanjodi.com, and www.royalrishtey.com to defraud people. By posting fake bride and groom photos and false profiles, they tried earning trust. Money collected from victims across the country was deposited into numerous fake bank accounts, which were remotely controlled by Chinese operators through unauthorized APK apps. Every member of this network received a commission based on the transaction volume in their accounts.
An FIR has been lodged at DD Nagar Police Station in Raipur, including 79 fake HDFC bank accounts. Another FIR is registered at Azad Chowk Station involving 17 fake South Indian Bank accounts. Cases are filed under the Indian Penal Code (BNS) sections 317(2), 317(4), 317(5), 111, and 3(5).
IG Amresh Mishra stated that the investigation continues to identify those providing fake (mule) bank accounts or operating or facilitating them. Banks are directed to monitor and pinpoint such accounts undertaking large or unusual transactions. Raipur Range Police are persistently gathering clues to eradicate this widespread cyber fraud and money laundering network extending across the nation.
