Muzaffarnagar Police Arrest Two in Alleged ₹53.83 Lakh Cyber Fraud

Muzaffarnagar district cyber crime police have claimed to have exposed a major cyber fraud gang and arrested two accused in connection with a fraud case involving ₹53.83 lakh. The police said the accused allegedly obtained SIM cards in the names of unsuspecting people, activated them and sent the WhatsApp OTPs to cybercriminal associates based abroad.

The accused have been identified as Monu, son of Mehr Ilahi, and Kabir, son of Mukim. Both are residents of village Harsoli in Shahpur police station area of Muzaffarnagar. Police said two mobile phones allegedly used in the offence were recovered from their possession.

According to the police, the accused would mislead people and get SIM cards issued in their names. After activating the SIM cards, they allegedly sent the WhatsApp OTPs to their cybercriminal associates sitting in Thailand and other countries.

The foreign associates would then operate WhatsApp accounts using these Indian mobile numbers. These accounts were allegedly used to carry out cyber fraud against people in different parts of the country.

The investigation began after complaints of cyber fraud through fake WhatsApp calls and messages operated from Muzaffarnagar were received on the ‘Pratibimb’ portal of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India.

During the inquiry, police found that SIM cards were being activated in the Shahpur police station area. The WhatsApp OTPs linked to these numbers were allegedly sent to cybercriminals based in Thailand and other countries. Police said the foreign associates used WhatsApp on the Indian numbers and targeted people in cyber fraud.

The police said two cases of cyber fraud linked to Jharkhand and West Bengal have come to light in connection with WhatsApp accounts operated through the mobile numbers activated by the accused.

According to the police, the two cases involved total fraud of ₹53 lakh 83 thousand 822. The police have linked the alleged fraud to WhatsApp accounts being run through the Indian mobile numbers whose SIM cards were activated.

During the investigation, police found information indicating that around 70 SIM cards had been activated on the accused’s mobile phones. The police are now trying to establish how many Indian mobile numbers were provided to cybercriminals based abroad.

Investigators are also examining how many other crimes may have been committed through these numbers. The role of other people suspected to be involved in the case is also being investigated.

A case has been registered at Muzaffarnagar Cyber Crime police station under case crime number 39/2026. The charges include Sections 318(4), 3(5) and 111 of the BNS.

Police said further legal action against the accused is continuing.

The team involved in the action included Cyber Crime police station in-charge inspector Karmveer Singh, sub-inspector Jai Sharma, sub-inspector Mubarik Hasan, and head constables Balkishan, Akash Chaudhary and Sunil Kumar.