SIM Swap Fraud Gang Busted in Varanasi, Two Cyber Criminals Arrested for ₹12 Lakh Fraud
Fake Aadhaar Cards, Mobile Phones and Cash Recovered in Major Cyber Crime Police Action
Varanasi, May 27: The Cyber Crime Police Station of Police Commissionerate Varanasi has arrested two notorious cyber criminals, including the kingpin of a gang involved in SIM swap fraud and online banking theft worth ₹12 lakh. Police recovered mobile phones used in the crime, forged Aadhaar cards and cash from their possession.
According to police, a complaint was lodged on May 24, 2026, by Shivlal Harijan, a resident of Khanwar village in Ballia and presently residing at Police Lines, Varanasi, stating that ₹12 lakh had been fraudulently withdrawn from his bank account. Following the complaint, Cyber Crime Police registered Case No. 0018/2026 under Section 318(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Section 66D of the IT Act. The investigation was being conducted by Inspector Yogendra Prasad.
Acting under the direction of Police Commissioner Mohit Agrawal, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime) Neetu Kadyan and Additional DCP Crime Nripendra, a special team led by Assistant Commissioner of Police (Cyber Crime) Vidush Saxena launched an intensive operation and arrested the accused from Varanasi on Wednesday.
The arrested accused have been identified as Surendra Kumar, a resident of Loharpur under Bhawarkol police station in Ghazipur district, and Vinay Kumar, a resident of Semri Gothwa under Nagra police station in Ballia district.
Police said the gang used to fraudulently obtain SIM cards linked to victims’ bank accounts by stealing SIMs or getting them swapped in the name of SIM updates. Using the activated numbers, they operated various UPI applications and transferred money from the victims’ bank accounts.
The accused allegedly used forged Aadhaar cards and fake identity documents to withdraw cash through various CSP centres before distributing the money among themselves.
Police officials further revealed that both accused already have several cases of fraud and cyber crime registered against them.
The police team involved in the successful operation included Inspectors Yogendra Prasad and Vijay Narayan Mishra, Sub-Inspectors Sanjeev Kanojia, Alok Ranjan Singh, Vivek Singh and Shailendra Kumar along with the Cyber Crime Police Station staff.
