Hyderabad Cybercrime Police have arrested two men accused of helping cybercriminals obtain bank accounts and SIM cards for a fraud network linked to about 450 cases across India. Police estimate that transactions connected to the network totalled ₹60 crore to ₹70 crore.
The accused, Gumma Ramesh, 39, and Mudale Anil, 19, are residents of Ramanthapur. Police arrested them on October 8 and seized two mobile phones. Investigators said Ramesh allegedly collected around 60 to 70 bank accounts from students, delivery partners and others, offering commissions in return.
Police said Ramesh moved to Hyderabad from Bidar district in Karnataka with his family because of financial difficulties. He later rented a car and worked as a driver for Rapido and Uber, during which he allegedly came into contact with cyber fraudsters.
Investigators allege that Ramesh and an absconding accused approached people in and around Ramanthapur to obtain their bank accounts and SIM cards. The group allegedly collected passbooks, debit cards, internet banking details and SIM cards, then sent them by courier to contacts in Haryana for use in cybercrime.
Anil allegedly opened three savings bank accounts at different banks for a commission and gave the related credentials to Ramesh. Police said both men knew the accounts and SIM cards would be used for cybercrime.
The investigation began after a complaint on September 25. Police said the complainant was offered ₹45 lakh in exchange for an old one-rupee currency note and lost ₹7,93,351. Cybercrime Police registered a case under Sections 66C and 66D of the Information Technology Act and Sections 318(4), 319(2), 336(3) and 340(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
The arrests in Ramanthapur were made under the supervision of Assistant Commissioner of Police R G Siva Maruthi, with Inspector M Surendar and his team carrying out the operation. Police said the wider network was linked to around 450 cases nationwide, involving transactions estimated at ₹60 crore to ₹70 crore.
