Daijiworld Media Network – Raipur
Raipur, Aug 8: In a major breakthrough, Raipur Police have busted a sophisticated interstate mobile theft and online fraud gang operating across 12 Indian states. Four key members, including the gang leader, were arrested from Jharkhand and West Bengal in a covert operation involving police officers disguised as Kanwad Yatris during the Shravan month.
The racket came to light following a complaint lodged by city resident Govind Ram Wadhwani at Telibandha Police Station on June 22. Wadhwani reported that his phone was stolen in a crowded market and, shortly after, Rs 1.85 lac was fraudulently withdrawn from his bank account through UPI platforms such as PhonePe.
According to officials, the gang ran a high-tech, structured network that targeted public places and trains to steal smartphones, which were then used for online banking fraud.
The arrested gang leader, Deva alias Dev Kumar Mahato (28) of Sahebganj, Jharkhand, is said to have recruited unemployed youth and paid them Rs 25,000 per month to commit mobile thefts. Operating out of a rented house in Raipur, the gang executed crimes in markets, stations, and other crowded areas.
Police revealed the gang’s modus operandi involved three specialised groups:
1. Mobile snatchers,
2. UPI fraudsters, and
3. Cash withdrawers who collected money from ATMs and redistributed it after deducting commission.
The money trail extended to locations in Kolkata and Jharkhand, confirming the gang's deep interstate links. During the investigation, a 10-member police team from Raipur travelled to Jharkhand and West Bengal, using disguises to blend in with devotees and track down the culprits.
The four arrested include:
• Dev Kumar Mahato (28) – Gang leader from Sahebganj
• Kanhaiya Kumar Mandal (22) – Sahebganj
• Vishnu Kumar Mandal (22) – Sahebganj
• Om Prakash Thakur (31) – Kolkata, responsible for ATM withdrawals
During the raid, police seized three mobile phones, two SIM cards, and nearly 50 QR codes, which revealed evidence of UPI frauds involving transactions worth crores. The gang’s operations extended across states like Bihar, Maharashtra, Delhi, Gujarat, and Tamil Nadu.
So far, 10 people have been arrested in connection with the case, and investigations continue. FIRs have been registered at Gudhiyari and Telibandha police stations under IPC Section 303(2), 134 BNS, and various organised crime laws.
The success of the operation is credited to SHO Narendra Mishra, Cyber Cell In-charge Paresh Pandey, SI Mukesh Sori, and members of the Anti-Crime Team of Raipur Police.