In a startling revelation of international cybercrime, Odisha government schoolteacher Jayant Kumar Sahu and his aide Ranjit Kumar Behera were arrested for defrauding a Lucknow businessman of Rs47 lakh. The duo impersonated a CBI officer and used sophisticated digital tactics, including “digital house arrest”, to carry out the fraud.
The arrest, made on Sunday by a joint police team from Keonjhar district, has since led authorities to uncover a sprawling cybercrime network with suspected ties to Chinese operatives based in Haryana.
According to ADCP (Crime) Vasanth Kumar, who is heading the investigation, the case exemplifies a modern cybercrime syndicate. “The accused were working under a handler in Haryana who had direct communication with a Chinese national coordinating operations across India,” he stated.
The gang reportedly used a variety of digital tools and psychological manipulation techniques. “They accessed personal data via the dark web or leaked databases, posing as law enforcement officials to scare victims,” Kumar explained.
One victim, businessman Ravindra Verma, received a fake call on June 23 claiming his Aadhaar and mobile were linked to a criminal FIR in Mumbai. Under this pretense, he was coerced into transferring Rs47 lakh.
Further investigations revealed the scammers used corporate credit cards under various names, registering them with fresh mobile numbers. The scammed money was funneled through fake corporate accounts linked to Sahu’s firm, then converted into cryptocurrency (USDT) using netbanking and payment gateways.
These illicit funds were then distributed among the syndicate members through multiple digital wallets and mule accounts—some managed by accomplices, others by unwitting individuals.
“The digital trail is complex, but we are making progress. More arrests are expected soon,” said ADCP Kumar.
