Prayagraj Digital Crime Gang Busted, ₹64.61 Lakh Recovered

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Prayagraj Cyber Cell officials have apprehended Ayush Awasthi, a 29-year-old individual linked to an inter-state cybercrime syndicate specializing in digital arrest fraud.

Incident Overview

The incident originated when a woman from Georgetown received a fraudulent call on August 26. The perpetrators impersonated a courier company employee and a cybercrime investigator, claiming a narcotics-filled parcel linked to her Aadhaar number had been intercepted. They allegedly threatened legal consequences, placing her under a “digital arrest” and demanding a transfer of 1.78 crore rupees to multiple bank accounts to avert further action.

Arrest and Recovery Details

During the operation, investigators seized 64.61 lakh rupees, including insurance documents valued at approximately 40 lakh rupees and 24.61 lakh rupees in cash. Additional items recovered included two mobile devices and a chequebook. Following the victim’s report, law enforcement traced the fraudulent activity to a bank account linked to Awasthi, a resident of Sikandrabad village in Lakhimpur Kheri district. He was arrested on October 4 at his residence.

Awasthi’s Operations and Connections

During interrogation, Awasthi reportedly admitted to operating a labor supply business affiliated with a private bank. His operations ceased after completing a two-month project in Mumbai under a Gujarat-based company’s tender. In November 2025, Awasthi connected with Rajan Shukla of Puranpur through Nishant Trivedi, a local acquaintance. Shukla allegedly offered a 10% commission for facilitating the movement of illicit funds through Awasthi’s account.

Investigation and Inter-State Coordination

The trio traveled to Mumbai on September 6, allegedly orchestrating the transfer of 48.50 lakh rupees from the victim’s account on September 7 and 8. Bank transaction analyses suggest the group employed similar tactics to target individuals in Uttarakhand, Tamil Nadu, and Maharashtra. Approximately 3.80 crore rupees were reportedly funneled through multiple accounts as part of financial layering.

Ongoing Actions and Task Force

Authorities have engaged inter-state coordination mechanisms via the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal to investigate the broader network. A dedicated inter-state task force has been established to trace additional participants and scrutinize financial flows. Investigators are examining communication records between suspects and mapping the distribution of illicit proceeds. Nishant Trivedi and Rajan Shukla remain at large, with three teams deployed to locate and apprehend them.

Legal Proceedings and Evidence Collection

Evidence collection continues to clarify the roles of other suspects and identify supplementary accounts used for fund transfers. The seized assets, including cash, insurance documents, mobile devices, and banking records, are under investigation. Legal proceedings are ongoing as authorities analyze transaction patterns and the syndicate’s interstate operations.