In a major cyber crime breakthrough, the Bhopal Cyber-crime Branch arrested three individuals accused of duping an NGO by pretending to facilitate a large donation of Rs20 crore. The gang members, arrested from Indore and Hoshangabad, are believed to be part of a wider racket.
The accused allegedly convinced the complainant through in-person meetings in Bhopal and Indore, where they posed as donors or intermediaries. After gaining the victim’s trust, they extracted Rs18 lakh under various pretexts such as processing charges and administrative fees. After the money was transferred, they cut off all communication and went into hiding.
Following the FIR, cyber crime officials launched a technical surveillance operation, tracing the accused through mobile and banking activity. Raids were conducted in the Khajrana and Kishanganj police station limits in Indore, and in Babai, Hoshangabad.
The arrested individuals have been identified as:
Rakesh Yadav (51): A resident of Gannraj Nagar, Indore, and art gallery operator. He played a key role in coordinating meetings and took a cut of the proceeds.
Dileep Sujane (29): Residing at B-209 Lunawat Cosmos, Kishanganj, originally from Betul. He’s employed in the private sector and was actively involved in meetings with the NGO.
Ajay Yadav (25): A student from Babai, Hoshangabad, preparing for competitive exams. He also participated in the scam and received a share of the fraud amount.
Officials believe the scam was part of a larger network of fraudsters targeting NGOs and social organizations by offering fake donations. Further investigations are ongoing to identify additional members of the racket and recover the stolen funds.
