Pune: In a major crackdown on cyber fraud, the Pimpri-Chinchwad Cyber Police have arrested six individuals from Jharkhand, Gujarat, and Odisha for supplying bank accounts to scammers. Investigations have revealed that the accused provided thousands of bank accounts to an individual based in Cambodia.
The arrested suspects have been identified as Shubham Mohan Londhe (24, resident of Chikhali), Sam alias David alias Sambidha Kumar Shripati Nayak (22, resident of Odisha), Professor alias Himanshu Kumar Ganesh Thakur (24, resident of Jharkhand), Rajansh Santosh Singh (21, resident of Bhugaon, originally from Jharkhand), Gaurav Anilkumar Sharma (40, resident of Gujarat), and Ankush Ramrao More (31, resident of Nashik).
Police Investigation Uncovers International Links
According to Deputy Commissioner of Police Sandeep Doifode, while investigating a case registered at the Cyber Police Station, officials discovered that Shubham Londhe was involved in providing bank accounts for cyber fraud. During interrogation, he confessed to handing over these accounts to Sam.
Further investigations revealed that Sam had been running a widespread operation, reaching out to bank account holders across India via Telegram. These accounts were then forwarded to a Cambodian suspect. Sam had been actively engaged in this illicit trade for two years and was found to be using over 20 mobile numbers to carry out his transactions. He was arrested in Hinjewadi on January 23.
How the Fraud Network Operated
Following Sam’s arrest, police conducted raids at multiple locations, including hotels in Bhugaon, Ghotawade, Bhukum, Bavdhan, and Hinjewadi. During these operations, five account holders were taken into custody for questioning. These individuals were under constant surveillance by 'gatekeepers'—accomplices who ensured that law enforcement agencies did not track or trap the fraudsters.
The investigation also revealed that bank kits, which included chequebooks and account-related documents, were collected by these gatekeepers and sent via courier to an apartment in Bavdhan, where the main accused were residing.
The police later arrested Rajansh from this apartment. His primary role was to accumulate bank kits and send them to the main suspect in Cambodia. Further inquiries confirmed that Sam had been closely working with the Cambodian fraudster for over two years.
Seized Evidence and Arrest of Additional Suspects
Continuing their investigation, the police tracked down two more suspects—Gaurav Anilkumar Sharma, who was supplying bank accounts from Valsad, Gujarat, and Ankush Ramrao More from Nashik. Both were subsequently arrested.
Authorities have confiscated nine mobile phones, one tablet, and ten chequebooks from the six accused. The police are now expanding their probe to identify additional links in this international fraud network.