Agra Police Bust Cyber Fraud Gang, Eight Arrested in Hotel Raid

Agra Police have arrested eight members of an international cyber fraud network operating from a hotel in the Tajganj area. The gang was allegedly involved in opening mule accounts—high-limit bank accounts created using other people’s documents—on behalf of foreign cybercriminals.

According to officials, the Cyber Cell received information that several fraud suspects were staying at Hotel Jimmy in Tajganj. Acting on this tip, police conducted a raid at around 1 a.m. on Monday and apprehended eight people. Four others managed to escape.

Arrested Accused

• Ranveer Bhargava – Delhi

• Saurabh Chaudhary – Aligarh

• Anuj – Auraiya

• Rahul Kumar – Agra

• Devendra Pratap Singh – Prayagraj

• Ajay Kumar – Agra

• Dhruvnath Pratap Singh – Firozabad

• Chiranjeevi Sharma – Agra

The accused reportedly approached people under false pretenses, collected their personal documents and used them to open bank accounts with high transaction limits. After the accounts were created, debit cards and cheque books were handed over to the gang leader. Money sent by foreign cybercriminals was then quickly moved into cryptocurrencies and U.S. dollars through 40–50 mule accounts within minutes.

Investigators found that the gang worked with cybercriminals based in Cambodia, Myanmar and other countries. One of the accused, Devendra Pratap Singh, is believed to have received special training in Dubai.

The racket paid the account holders only ₹1,000–₹2,000, while members of the syndicate earned nearly 2% commission on every transaction. Police recovered nine mobile phones, 42 debit cards, 11 cheque books, a vehicle, Nepali currency and several incriminating videos and chats during the operation. These digital proofs show how massive sums—ranging from ₹75 lakh to over ₹10 crore per account—were moved through these mule accounts.

Police officials stated that the group has been active for nearly three to four years and is believed to have opened hundreds of accounts that helped transfer crores of rupees. However, the actual amount of money laundered is still being investigated.

Searches are underway to trace the four accused who escaped and to uncover the full extent of the network.