Delhi Police bust gang that duped DRDO scientist of Rs 40 lakh, four arrested

Delhi Police have dismantled a gang involved in hacking bank accounts and arrested four individuals linked to a cyber fraud case in which a retired DRDO scientist was cheated out of Rs 40 lakh, an official said on Friday.

According to Deputy Commissioner of Police (Southwest) Surendra Choudhary, the fraudsters posed as customer care representatives and tricked victims into installing a malicious Android Package Kit (APK) file under the pretence of resolving service-related issues. Once installed, the malware granted remote access to the victim’s device, enabling the gang to steal sensitive financial data, including banking credentials, PAN details, and CVV codes. Using these details, they siphoned off large sums from victims’ accounts.

The case came to light after a retired Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) scientist reported that Rs 40 lakh had been fraudulently withdrawn from his savings and fixed deposit accounts.

DCP Choudhary explained that the victim had searched online for a customer support number and inadvertently contacted a fraudulent helpline. He was then sent a malware link via social media, which he unknowingly installed, giving the scammers access to his bank details. Over a period of seven days, the fraudsters systematically transferred funds from his account. After he filed a complaint, an FIR was registered, and a specialized cyber police team launched an investigation.

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The probe led police to Deoghar in Jharkhand and Mewat in Rajasthan. Technical surveillance revealed that the gang frequently switched SIM cards and devices to evade detection. Based on geo-location tracking and intelligence inputs, police conducted raids and arrested four suspects—Iqbal Ansari, Sajid Khan, Salman Khan, and Narendra Kumar.

Investigations revealed that Iqbal Ansari handled fraudulent advertisements for fake customer support numbers, received calls from victims, and distributed malware. Sajid Khan and Salman Khan recruited job seekers under false pretences to open bank accounts that the gang used for laundering stolen money. Narendra Kumar was responsible for withdrawing the defrauded funds via ATMs.

Police recovered five smartphones containing crucial evidence, including spreadsheets with victims’ financial details. Authorities believe the gang had targeted multiple victims across India using the same modus operandi, the DCP added.

The investigation is ongoing, and further arrests are expected.

(With inputs from PTI)