The Raipur Police have busted a high-tech interstate mobile theft and online fraud gang operating across 12 Indian states. Four accused, including the gang leader Dev Kumar Mahato (28) from Jharkhand, were arrested from Jharkhand and West Bengal.
The gang targeted crowded places and trains to steal mobile phones. Following a complaint by local resident Govind Ram Wadhwani, whose phone was stolen in a busy market on June 22, police discovered that Rs 1.85 lakh was fraudulently withdrawn from his account via UPI apps like PhonePe.
Dev Kumar Mahato led the gang that trained unemployed youths, paying them Rs 25,000 monthly to steal phones. The gang functioned from a rented house in Raipur and operated in three groups: one stole phones, another transferred money using UPI apps, and the third withdrew money from ATMs, redistributing it after taking commissions.
The gang’s financial trail traced back to Kolkata and Jharkhand. A 10-member police team disguised as Kanwad Yatris tracked and arrested the suspects, including:
Dev Kumar Mahato (28), Gang Leader – Sahebganj, Jharkhand
Kanhaiya Kumar Mandal (22) – Sahebganj
Vishnu Kumar Mandal (22) – Sahebganj
Om Prakash Thakur (31) – Kolkata (handled fraudulent withdrawals)
Police seized three mobile phones, two SIM cards, and 40-50 QR codes linking the gang to large-scale financial fraud involving crores of rupees.
Cases were registered under IPC Section 303(2), 134 BNS, and organised crime laws. Six more accused have been arrested, and investigations continue.
SHO Narendra Mishra, Cyber Unit In-charge Paresh Pandey, SI Mukesh Sori, and other officials played key roles in this operation.
