Archive · 7 Oct 2026
Faridabad Police Arrest Alleged Cyber Gangmaster in APK Fraud
Police in Faridabad say an elderly man was tricked by a message about paying his gas bill.
The message warned that his gas service could be disconnected.
After he called the number in the message, someone sent him an APK file and asked him to open it.
Police say the file let the fraudsters access his phone and take Rs 5,12,334 from his account.
Officers have arrested seven people in the case, including two suspects arrested later in the investigation.
Police identify Deepak Kumar Mandal as the alleged gangmaster.
Investigators say the group used personal data to pressure people into downloading harmful files.
Police say they found data linked to thousands of gas and bank customers and evidence that files were sent to 116 people.
Police said an elderly Faridabad resident lost Rs 5,12,334 after opening a malicious APK file sent under the pretext of paying an Adani Gas bill.
Two more suspects, including alleged gangmaster Deepak Kumar Mandal, were arrested during the investigation; police said both were on four days of remand.
Police said five other accused had already been arrested and sent to jail.
Investigators said the alleged gang bought citizens’ data and APK files through Telegram and used the information to intimidate victims into downloading the files.
Police said they recovered data on about 20,000 Adani Gas consumers and 1,000 UCO Bank customers, and found that APK files had been sent to 116 people.
- Who
- Police arrested two more suspects, including alleged gangmaster Deepak Kumar Mandal and Anil Kumar Mandal; five other accused had previously been arrested.
- What
- The case concerns an alleged cyber fraud in which a malicious APK file was used to steal Rs 5,12,334 from an elderly man.
- When
- The victim filed a complaint on September 1; the arrests were reported on October 7, 2026.
- Where
- Faridabad, Haryana; the victim lived in Sector 37.
- Why
- Police said the suspects posed as helpers with an Adani Gas bill payment to persuade the victim to open an APK file and gain access to his phone.
- Amount stolen
- Rs 5,12,334
- Victim
- An elderly resident of Sector 37, Faridabad
- Complaint date
- September 1
- Latest arrests
- Two suspects, including alleged gangmaster Deepak Kumar Mandal
- Earlier arrests
- Five accused, whom police said had been sent to jail
- Data reportedly recovered
- Information on about 20,000 Adani Gas consumers and 1,000 UCO Bank customers
- APK distribution
- Police said files had been sent to 116 individuals
- Investigation status
- Police said the two latest suspects were on four days of remand