The Hanumanganj Police Station in Bhopal has successfully dismantled an inter-state gang that originated from Patna, Bihar, specializing in the creation of fake Aadhaar cards, PAN cards, SIM cards, and bank accounts. The gang, which consisted of seven members, was involved in large-scale cyber fraud and financial scams across multiple states.
The police were tipped off when a few suspicious individuals were found purchasing SIM cards from a local mobile shop in Bhopal using forged Aadhaar cards. Upon investigation, authorities found that while the photos on the Aadhaar cards were identical, the names and addresses didn’t match, prompting them to register a case and launch a detailed inquiry.
The gang’s leader, Shashikant Kumar, along with his associates, used advanced technological tools to fabricate Aadhaar and PAN cards. Shashikant had access to Aadhaar data from Jharkhand and would identify cards that were not linked to PAN cards. If a PAN card was missing, he would create one, using his associates’ photos on the forged documents. These fake identities were then used to procure SIM cards and open bank accounts, facilitating the gang’s fraudulent activities.
After receiving intelligence, the police raided a flat in the Ibrahimganj area, where they seized a large cache of fake Aadhaar cards, PAN cards, ATM cards, SIM cards, mobile phones, laptops, printers, and other tools used to manufacture these forged documents. The gang used these items to open fake bank accounts and obtain SIM cards, which were then used to perpetrate cyber fraud and financial crimes.
The arrested individuals include Shashikant Kumar, Sapna, Ankit Kumar Sahu, Kaushal Mali, Roshan Kumar, Ranjan Kumar, and Mohammad Titu. The gang opened fake bank accounts in cities like Mumbai, Lucknow, Indore, Hyderabad, and Ahmedabad, selling each account to scammers for Rs 10,000. These accounts were used in various fraudulent activities, including obtaining loans and conducting gaming-related scams. To avoid detection, the gang frequently changed their operations and created new identities.