Cyber police from Jharkhand's Bokaro district have dismantled an interstate cyber fraud network by arresting two individuals from Agra, Uttar Pradesh, for extorting money through digital house arrest. The perpetrators impersonated senior officers from the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad, falsely accused a Gomia-based woman's husband of receiving massive terror funding from Pakistan, and coerced her into transferring several lakhs of rupees under duress.
Threats of Pakistan Funding and Bogus Commissions
According to details shared by Headquarters DSP Pawan Kumar, the investigation originates from Bokaro Cyber Police Station Case Number 08/2026. The victim, Pushpalata Tripathi, a resident under the jurisdiction of the Gomia police station, formally lodged a police complaint on March 13, 2026. Her statement revealed that the conmen contacted her presenting themselves as Maharashtra ATS officers and concocted a fabricated investigation involving state security.
The fraudsters falsely alleged that illegal funds amounting to Rs 300 crore had landed in her husband's bank account directly from a Pakistani account. To escalate the panic, they claimed he had pocketed a commission of Rs 16 lakh from this illicit money transfer and threatened immediate arrest. Keeping the victim confined under a terrifying digital arrest, the criminals steadily intensified their psychological pressure until she transferred a total sum of Rs 4 lakh 50 thousand into accounts controlled by their syndicate.
Digital Forensics Lead Investigators to Agra
Following the formal registration of the complaint, the Superintendent of Police of Bokaro directed the formation of a specialized investigative squad within the cyber division. By tracking financial trails, mobile communications, and technical evidence, the team pinpointed the suspects' physical base in Agra. A raid was quickly conducted in Uttar Pradesh, resulting in the successful apprehension of both suspects. Investigators noted that the gang systematically utilized third-party bank accounts to route and conceal the extorted proceeds.
Cambodia Returnee Identified as Key Operator Alongside High-End Devices
Police identified the two detained suspects as 23-year-old Ravi Kumar and 21-year-old Rithik Kushwaha. Preliminary inquiries revealed that Rithik Kushwaha had spent several years residing in Cambodia before returning to India. Upon his return, he adopted an ostentatious persona and engaged in transnational cybercrime frameworks, leveraging overseas pretenses to deceive victims.
During their arrest, law enforcement recovered an iPhone 15 and a Nothing Phone 3a from the suspects. Forensic inspection of these devices uncovered crucial incriminating evidence, including recorded audio communications and text exchanges detailing extortion schemes and money transfers. Bokaro cyber police are currently cross-referencing this digital data to map out the entire operational web and identify other accomplices operating across domestic and foreign jurisdictions.
