Five Arrested in Cyber Fraud and Kidnapping Case in Bhubaneswar

Bhubaneswar : The Commissionerate Police on Sunday arrested five individuals for their alleged involvement in cyber fraud and kidnapping, Bhubaneswar DCP Jagmohan Meena informed. The accused have been identified as Bhagban Sahu (21) of Maitri Vihar, Chiranjiv Rout (21), Amitarani Rout (50), and Akankhya Rout (21) of Chandaka area in Bhubaneswar, along with Samir Kumar Bhuvey (35) from Bihar Sharif in Nalanda district, Bihar.

According to police, the Bhubaneswar-based family opened bank accounts in their names and supplied the details to cyber fraudsters outside the state for use as mule accounts. They reportedly met Bihar-based cybercriminal Samir Kumar at Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, and struck a deal to share account details in exchange for a 1.4 per cent commission on fraudulent transactions.

DCP Meena said cyber fraudsters across India used the bank accounts, but when repeated freezes were placed on these accounts, bank officials alerted the family. A dispute then erupted between the Bhubaneswar family and Samir Kumar. Acting on a plan, the family lured Samir to Bhubaneswar and kidnapped him, demanding a ransom of ₹25 lakh.

Samir, however, managed to alert the owner of the hotel where he was staying. Acting swiftly, the Commissionerate Police raided a slum in Bhubaneswar and rescued him. Chiranjiv, Amitarani, and Akankhya were arrested along with Samir Kumar, while Bhagban was also later nabbed.

During interrogation, police learned that all accused were part of the same cybercrime gang. Investigations revealed crores of rupees had been transacted through three bank accounts linked to the Bhubaneswar family. Police said further investigation is underway to trace the entire network.