New Delhi/Patna: A key accused allegedly involved in an APK-based banking fraud case has been arrested by the Delhi Police from Bihar’s Aurangabad, officials said on Sunday, following sustained technical surveillance, detailed analysis of digital evidence and examination of financial transaction trails.
The Shahdara District Police said it has made a significant breakthrough in the case by apprehending the accused from Madanpur in Bihar’s Aurangabad district, following an extensive investigation, identifying the individuals behind the unauthorised banking transactions, and tracing the digital footprint of the offence.
According to officials, the matter came to light after a complainant reported three unauthorised debit transactions from his bank account. The complainant became aware of the transactions after receiving SMS alerts on his registered mobile number.
He told the police that he had neither carried out nor authorised the transactions and had also not shared his banking PIN or any other confidential banking credentials with anyone.
At the time of reporting the incident, the complainant was unaware of how the unauthorised transactions had taken place. Following the complaint, a case was registered at PS Cyber Shahdara in Delhi, and an investigation was initiated.
Considering the technical nature of the offence, a dedicated police team was constituted under the supervision of Inspector Vijay Kumar, SHO, PS Cyber Shahdara. The team functioned under the close supervision of ACP/Ops Mohinder Singh.
The police team was tasked with identifying the persons involved in the alleged fraud, tracing the digital trail associated with the offence, following the movement of the money and establishing the specific role of the suspected individuals.
During the course of the investigation, the police meticulously examined and correlated several pieces of technical and financial evidence, including IP logs, Call Detail Records, bank account details, transaction patterns, technical inputs and other relevant digital evidence.
Further examination of the digital evidence indicated that a malicious APK file had allegedly been sent to and subsequently installed on the complainant’s mobile phone.
According to the police, installation of the malicious APK is suspected to have compromised the complainant’s mobile device and facilitated unauthorised access to banking-related information.
Based on sustained technical surveillance, location-based inputs and field verification, the police team identified the accused as Shashikant Kumar, a resident of Bihar’s Aurangabad district.
The accused was traced within the jurisdiction of PS Madanpur in Aurangabad, Bihar. Officials said that he allegedly attempted to evade apprehension on multiple occasions. However, the investigating team continued its surveillance and repeatedly verified the technical inputs through coordinated field efforts.
After sustained efforts, the accused was ultimately traced and apprehended from the area, following which he was brought into the investigation in accordance with the law.
During the investigation, police found that the accused was allegedly part of a wider cyber-fraud network. The network reportedly used malicious APK files to target victims, compromise their mobile devices and facilitate unauthorised banking transactions.
Investigators also found that the money allegedly cheated from victims was routed through mule bank accounts. These accounts were reportedly procured from unsuspecting villagers by allegedly offering them gas connections and related benefits.
According to the investigation, accused Shashikant Kumar allegedly played a role in managing the proceeds of the fraud. He allegedly facilitated the withdrawal and transfer of the cheated money, retained a commission from the proceeds and passed the remaining amount to other associates involved in the network.
The investigation has so far indicated the involvement of multiple modules operating at different stages of the alleged cyber-fraud operation.
These modules were reportedly involved in sending malicious APK files to victims, compromising mobile devices, arranging mule bank accounts and routing or withdrawing the proceeds generated through the fraudulent transactions.
Officials said further investigation is underway to identify the other members of the alleged network, establish their individual roles and trace the complete money trail associated with the case.
During the investigation, the police also recovered one mobile phone along with a SIM card from the accused.
“Citizens are advised to avoid downloading APK files from unknown sources and remain vigilant while using banking applications or sharing financial information,” the police said.
(IANS)
