Dehradun, Apr 9: The Uttarakhand Special Task Force (STF) has apprehended two suspected members of an interstate cybercrime syndicate from Jammu and Kashmir in connection with a major online fraud case, officials said on Wednesday.
Senior Superintendent of Police (STF) Ajay Singh identified the arrested individuals as Shaukat Hussain Malik and Bilal Ahmed, residents of Budgam district. He said the arrests followed a challenging operation during which a crowd allegedly gathered and attempted to create pressure on law enforcement agencies and court officials.
Despite the tense situation, the STF team proceeded carefully and was able to secure police custody of the accused through legal procedures, the officer added.
During the operation, investigators seized three mobile phones along with multiple ATM cards, Aadhaar cards, PAN cards, and documents suspected to be linked to questionable financial dealings. Officials believe the materials recovered have exposed the existence of a wider cyber fraud network operating across several states.
Police said the investigation began after a 71-year-old man from Dehradun filed a complaint at the Cyber Crime Police Station. He reported that on November 21, 2025, unknown individuals contacted him while pretending to be officials from the Delhi Police and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). They allegedly claimed that illegal financial transactions were being conducted in his name through a bank account in Delhi.
According to officials, the fraudsters used a WhatsApp video call to frighten the victim by showing fabricated documents and what they claimed was a non-bailable arrest warrant, posing as law enforcement officers. Under the guise of verifying his financial details, they reportedly pressured him into transferring around ₹65 lakh to different bank accounts.
The victim later realised he had been deceived and approached the police to register a formal complaint.
Authorities said that a detailed examination of banking records, phone numbers, and digital communication trails helped investigators trace the suspects and establish their involvement.
The SSP further stated that during the arrest operation, a significant number of people gathered near the police station and later outside the court premises, allegedly trying to influence the process. Nevertheless, the STF personnel handled the situation calmly and ensured that legal procedures were followed.
He also pointed out that the operation was conducted with caution due to past security incidents, including grenade attacks reported in the area.
Investigators believe that money obtained through fraudulent activities in various states was transferred through a network of bank accounts before being withdrawn using ATM cards and mobile devices. Financial transactions amounting to several lakh rupees were detected within a short period in accounts connected to the suspects.
Preliminary findings suggest that complaints related to these accounts have surfaced in at least seven states, including Uttarakhand, and coordination with law enforcement agencies in other regions is currently underway as part of the ongoing probe
