Jaipur, July 6 (IANS) The Rajasthan Police’s Cyber Crime Branch has arrested an accused in connection with a major interstate cyber fraud syndicate targeting the corporate sector. Fraudsters allegedly used the name and display picture (DP) of the chairman of a reputed company on WhatsApp to deceive the company’s accountant into transferring Rs 5.30 crore to two separate bank accounts.

Acting on technical and financial evidence, the State Cyber Crime Police Station achieved a significant breakthrough by arresting the accused from Pune, Maharashtra.

Revealing details of the case, Additional Director General of Police (Cyber Crime) Vijay Kumar Singh said that on April 27, 2026, the complainant, Deependra Singh of Galaxy Mining Private Limited, reported the incident through the national cybercrime helpline (1930).

According to the complaint, cyber fraudsters used the name and photograph of the company’s chairman, Deependra Singh Rathore, to contact the company’s accountant through an unknown WhatsApp number. Posing as the chairman, the fraudsters shared details of two bank accounts and instructed the accountant, who was authorised to carry out financial transactions, to transfer funds urgently. Trusting the authenticity of the message, the accountant transferred Rs 5.30 crore through online banking.

The cybercriminals allegedly adopted a sophisticated social engineering technique. They first collected the chairman’s profile photograph and other publicly available details before creating a WhatsApp account impersonating him. Seeing his employer’s name and display picture, the accountant believed the request to be genuine and transferred the funds without raising suspicion.

Given the magnitude and sensitivity of the case, a special investigation team was constituted under the direction of DIG (Cyber Crime) Shantanu Kumar Singh and the supervision of SP Sumit Mehrada.

Through detailed technical analysis of bank accounts, mobile numbers and digital transactions linked to the fraud, investigators identified the accused as Rahul Ashok (32), a resident of Pune district, Maharashtra. With assistance from the Maharashtra Police, the Rajasthan Police apprehended the accused in Pune, secured his transit remand from the local court and brought him to Jaipur for further investigation.

During interrogation, the accused, Rahul, son of Ashok Sopan, allegedly confessed to supplying bank accounts to cybercriminals in exchange for substantial commissions and facilitating the movement of illicit funds.

Preliminary investigation revealed that Rahul worked as a daily-wage labourer. Police alleged that, at the direction of an individual identified as Amit Singh in Pune, he registered a fictitious firm using forged documents.

Investigators further found that the current account opened in the name of the fake firm was fraudulently granted a credit limit of Rs 50 crore. This account was allegedly used to receive the Rs 5.30 crore fraud proceeds.

Police also alleged that the accused had opened three additional bank accounts for the syndicate. As soon as the funds were credited, they were rapidly transferred through multiple bank accounts in a process known as “layering” to conceal their trail.

Investigators are also examining the possible involvement of bank officials in facilitating the opening of these fraudulent accounts.

The special investigation team from the State Cyber Crime Police Station, Jaipur, was led by SHO and Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Gajendra Sharma. Police Inspector Mukesh, Constable Amit Kumar and Constable Jaisingh played key roles in the operation.

Police are continuing to examine digital evidence linked to additional bank accounts and mobile numbers used in the fraud to identify and arrest other members of the organised cybercrime syndicate, including the alleged kingpin, Amit Singh.

–IANS

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