34 Credit Cards, 24 Cheque Books, 77 SIM Cards, 200 Bank Accounts: Big Scam Busted In Bhopal – News18

Last Updated:December 25, 2024, 14:07 IST

The mastermind of the fraud, Rahul Srivastava is a seventh-grade dropout who was arrested along with his live-in partner. Bank officials became suspicious when he arrived at the bank in torn clothing with the intention of closing his account

Police in Bhopal’s Kolar area have exposed a gang selling accounts to cyber fraudsters. The mastermind, a seventh-grade dropout, operated the gang with his live-in partner.

Authorities recovered a substantial cache of equipment and funds, including three card swipe machines, six mobile phones, 34 credit and debit cards, 20 cheques, 24 chequebooks, six passbooks, 77 SIM cards, two diaries, 12 ATMs, one laptop, two Wi-Fi routers, and Rs 8 lakh in cash. The gang targeted vulnerable labourers, fraudulently obtaining their Aadhaar and PAN cards, along with Gumasta licences, under the pretence of providing assistance. These stolen identities were then used to open bank accounts, which were subsequently sold to cybercriminals nationwide.

The primary accused, 42-year-old Rahul Srivastava, alias Bablu, had only completed education up to the seventh standard.

Rahul, the accused, arrived at the bank in torn clothing with the intention of closing his account. Bank officials became suspicious due to transactions totalling Rs 3 crore that had occurred within his two accounts over a three-month period. They subsequently alerted the police.

Upon apprehending and questioning the account holder, the situation was clarified. When Rahul Srivastava revealed his involvement in selling the account in collusion with a couple, the police grew more vigilant. He disclosed that he received a commission in return for his cooperation. Based on the information provided by Rahul, the police arrested the couple, who confessed to selling over 200 accounts.

The police arrested the main accused, his wife, a young man and a girl. The arrested young man and girl lived in a live-in relationship. Both used to work in the Baghsewania area to get Aadhaar, PAN, food licences and Gumasta made.

Additional DCP Malkit Singh said that on 19 December, Kolar Police received an email from the Mandakini, Kolar Road branch of Bank of Maharashtra. The email stated that a certain Rahul Srivastava had visited the branch to close his bank account. The email further noted that transactions totalling approximately Rs 3 crore had occurred in Rahul’s two bank accounts over the preceding two to three months. Acting on this information, the police visited the bank.

Bank account details confirmed transactions amounting to three crore rupees between October 3, 2024 and December 5, 2024. The police questioned Rahul Srivastava who is a resident of Chinar 7 Mile, Borda, Kolar Road.

Rahul informed the police that he had sold two accounts to Ghanshyam Singrole, a resident of Kelkachh village in Madhya Pradesh’s Raisen district, for Rs 45,000. One account belonged to him, and the other to his wife. He also stated that Ghanshyam had suggested selling the accounts and introduced him to Nikita Prajapati and Nitesh Prajapati, a couple living together in the Bhopal’s Bagsewaniya area. The investigation revealed that the couple had fraudulently opened and sold hundreds of accounts. They would obtain the documents of labourers and impoverished individuals by enticing them, then open accounts and sell them. The police filed an FIR and arrested the accused.