- Mastermind arrested from Kanpur
Bhopal – In a major breakthrough, Bhopal Cyber Crime Branch has arrested the kingpin of a notorious “digital arrest” scam from Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh. The accused, Azad (38), a school dropout with education up to Class 8, had been impersonating an officer from the Delhi Crime Branch to extort money from unsuspecting victims across Hindi-speaking states.
Azad targeted mobile numbers from Hindi-speaking regions, calling victims while spoofing caller IDs to make them appear official. He would claim that a criminal case had been registered against the person and that an arrest warrant had been issued. Under the guise of settling the matter, he demanded money in the name of lawyers and judges, duping one Bhopal woman of Rs 90,500.
The scam came to light when the victim, Sukanya Singh (name changed), reported the fraud on April 28, 2025. Acting swiftly, under the supervision of senior officers including CP Shri Harinarayanachari Mishra and DCP Shri Akhil Patel, a cyber team was dispatched to Kanpur. After five days of intensive tracking and technical surveillance, Azad was arrested from his village Rathi Gaon, Reuna police station area.
Police recovered a mobile phone and six SIM cards used in the crime. Azad had been running the scam for 4–5 years, using fake bank accounts and ATMs to withdraw the money himself.
Citizens are urged to report cyber frauds to Bhopal Cyber Crime at 9479990636 or the national helpline 1930.
