Bhubaneswar Police Bust Cyber Fraud Ring: Five Arrested in Kidnapping and Scam Case
Bhubaneswar police have cracked down on a dangerous cyber fraud operation, arresting five people involved in online scams and a shocking kidnapping plot. The arrests happened on Sunday, as shared by Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Jagmohan Meena. This case highlights how cyber fraudsters in India are teaming up across states to dupe people, and how quick police action can stop them in their tracks.
The arrested suspects include Bhagban Sahu (21) from Maitri Vihar in Bhubaneswar, Chiranjiv Rout (21), his mother Amitarani Rout (50), and sister Akankhya Rout (21) from the Chandaka area of the city. The fifth person is Samir Kumar Bhuvey (35) from Bihar Sharif in Nalanda district, Bihar. All of them belonged to the same cybercriminal gang, police revealed during interrogation.
DCP Meena explained to reporters how this cyber fraud gang operated. A family in Bhubaneswar opened bank accounts in their names and sold the details to out-of-state fraudsters as "mule accounts" for scams. These accounts help criminals launder money from victims across India. The family met Samir Kumar, the Bihar-based cyber fraudster, in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, a few months ago. They struck a deal: the family would supply account details, and in return, get a 1.4% commission on the fraud money.
"These cyber fraudsters used the three bank accounts from the Bhubaneswar family to carry out scams all over India," DCP Meena said. "Police found transactions worth crores of rupees in those accounts." But things went wrong when banks froze the accounts due to suspicious activity and lien amounts. Bank officials warned the family, sparking a big fight with Samir Kumar.
In a twist, the family members—Chiranjiv, Amitarani, Bhagban, and Akankhya—plotted revenge. They lured Samir Kumar to Bhubaneswar on a fake pretext, kidnapped him, and demanded a whopping Rs 25 lakh ransom. Lucky for Samir, he managed to tip off the owner of his hotel in the city about the abduction.
Acting fast, the Commissionerate Police raided a slum area in Bhubaneswar and arrested Chiranjiv, Amitarani, Akankhya, and Samir Kumar. Later, they nabbed Bhagban too. This cyber fraud and kidnapping case shows the dark side of online crimes in India, where small-time helpers turn into full-blown criminals.
DCP Meena added that investigations continue, and police urge everyone to stay alert against cyber frauds. If you spot suspicious bank activity or scam attempts, report it immediately to avoid becoming a victim. This bust is a win for Bhubaneswar police in the fight against rising cybercrimes.
