Three Arrested in Cyber Fraud Case Involving Rs 82 Crore Across 352 Complaints
Karnataka Police have arrested three accused linked to a massive cyber fraud that siphoned off more than Rs 82 crore through 352 complaints nationwide, using multiple bank accounts and digital tools.
In a major breakthrough, Karnataka Police have taken three men into custody for their alleged role in a large scale cyber fraud that stretched across several states and involved hundreds of victims. Investigators say the network is connected to at least 352 registered complaints and an estimated fraud amount exceeding Rs 82 crore.
The case came to light after a complaint was filed by a man identified as Wilson, who claimed he was lured into opening a bank account on the promise of earning commission. According to police, the main accused, Jagadish C, 43, later gained control of the account and allegedly impersonated Wilson to move substantial sums of money through fraudulent transactions.
Jagadish, a resident of Sharavathi Nagar in Shivamogga, is said to run an electronics business. The other two arrested have been identified as Arshad, 39, a fish trader from Shankarpura in Chikkamagaluru district, and Anantha T, 34, a marketing professional from Shivamogga. Police believe the trio worked in coordination to facilitate the movement of funds.
During the investigation, officers traced and froze 15 bank accounts that were allegedly opened under different names and used to channel illegal transactions. Authorities estimate that over Rs 14.71 crore was routed through these accounts alone, forming part of the larger Rs 82 crore fraud linked to complaints across the country.
Police also seized two mobile phones, 11 ATM cards, nine QR code scanners and 15 Airtel SIM cards believed to have been used in the operation. The accused were produced before a court, which remanded them to judicial custody. Efforts are ongoing to identify and arrest other suspects who are believed to be absconding.
Senior police officials supervised the operation, and a dedicated cyber crime team led the probe. Investigators say the case highlights the growing sophistication of cyber fraud networks and have urged citizens to remain cautious while sharing bank details or opening accounts at the request of unknown individuals.
