Archive · 13 Aug 2026
Odisha Police bust inter-state cybercrime racket, arrest five
Some bad people tricked others into giving them access to their phones and bank information by using fake phone apps that looked like official government apps.
The police in Odisha, a state in India, found out about it and arrested five of the bad people.
The first person caught was Jyotish Prasad Verma, a dumpling (momo) seller from Rourkela.
Later, police caught four more people from another part of India called Jharkhand.
The bad people used the fake apps to see people's bank information, including their UPI accounts and ATM details, and take money from their accounts.
They stole a lot of money — more than 3.5 crore rupees.
But the police were able to freeze 47 lakh rupees in their bank accounts.
The police also took away their phones, ATM cards, cash, and an SUV.
Now the police are still looking for other people who may have helped them.
Odisha Police arrested five people in connection with an inter-state cybercrime racket, officials said on Wednesday.
The first arrest was Rourkela resident Jyotish Prasad Verma (29), alias Tilak Mahato, following a complaint at Udit Nagar police station on August 6.
Four more members — Bikash Kumar Manjhi (29), Pradip Kumar (24), Suraj Kumar (24) and Manish Kumar Yadav (25) — were arrested from Jharkhand's Deoghar district.
The gang allegedly used malicious APK files disguised as government scheme apps such as PM-Kisan Yojana to access victims' UPI accounts, ATM withdrawal details and merchant QR codes.
Police detected transactions worth more than Rs 3.5 crore linked to the racket, froze Rs 47 lakh, and registered 31 complaints and FIRs across the country.
- Who
- Odisha Police, led by Rourkela SP Nitesh Wadhwani, arrested Jyotish Prasad Verma, Bikash Kumar Manjhi, Pradip Kumar, Suraj Kumar and Manish Kumar Yadav.
- What
- Busting of an inter-state cybercrime racket that allegedly used fake government scheme apps to steal money from victims.
- When
- Arrests were reported on Wednesday, August 12, after a complaint was lodged at Udit Nagar police station on August 6.
- Where
- Rourkela in Odisha, with four suspects arrested in Jharkhand's Deoghar district.
- Why
- The gang allegedly used malicious APK files disguised as government scheme applications to access victims' phones and financial information and transfer money from their accounts.
- Number of arrests
- 5
- Detected transactions
- More than Rs 3.5 crore
- Complaints and FIRs
- 31 registered across the country
- Amount frozen
- Rs 47 lakh in accused bank accounts
- Items seized
- Rs 24,900 cash, 5 mobile phones, 5 ATM cards, 1 SUV
- Alleged method
- Malicious APK files disguised as government scheme apps such as PM-Kisan Yojana
- Lead officer
- Rourkela SP Nitesh Wadhwani
