Law enforcement authorities in the Muzaffarpur district of Bihar have achieved a major breakthrough in dismantling an inter-state cyber fraud syndicate operating through digital arrest extortion. Acting under the directives of Senior Superintendent of Police Kantesh Kumar Mishra, a specially constituted police team arrested an active operative from Banka district who impersonated Central Bureau of Investigation and police officials to intimidate citizens. The arrested individual has been identified as Prince Kumar, who served as a critical financial handler by facilitating the routing of extorted funds through designated bank accounts.
Impersonation Of CBI Officers Yielded Over 3.47 Lakh Rupees
According to Cyber DSP Himanshu Kumar, the fraudsters targeted complainant Ragini Devi by placing calls from national and international WhatsApp numbers on July 14 and July 15. The callers masqueraded as police and CBI officers, using fabricated allegations and high-pressure threats of immediate detention to trap the woman into an elaborate digital arrest scam. Under extreme psychological duress, the victim transferred a total sum of Rs 3,47,999 to bank accounts provided by the syndicate. Following her complaint, an official criminal case was registered at the local cyber police station under Case Crime Number 140/26.
Investigation Traces Mule Account Pipeline From Deoria To Banka
Recognizing the cross-border ramifications of the crime, a special investigative squad supervised by the City Police Superintendent and the Deputy Superintendent of Police-cum-SHO of the Cyber Police Station initiated an exhaustive technical probe. Investigators conducted forensic examinations of digital footprints, bank statements, and mule account transactions. The paper trail initially led the squad to Deoria in Uttar Pradesh, where an operation in Bariyarpur resulted in the prior arrest of Deepu Kushwaha. Subsequent interrogation and technical evidence established direct monetary transfers into bank accounts held by Prince Kumar in Banka, enabling police to conduct a targeted raid and secure his custody, bringing the total number of arrests in this investigation to two.
Over Fourteen Cyber Complaints Registered Across Nine States
Scrutiny of the operational accounts revealed that Prince Kumar's banking profiles were actively flagged across the country. A total of 14 independent cybercrime complaints originating from 9 different states have been officially linked to his accounts, pointing to a massive multi-jurisdictional racket. Through prompt coordination with banking institutions, investigators successfully secured an administrative hold on Rs 2,64,748 out of the Rs 3,47,999 stolen from Ragini Devi. Formal legal proceedings are currently underway to refund the frozen amount back into the complainant's bank account, while specialized police teams continue raids at multiple hideouts to apprehend remaining syndicate members.
