In a major breakthrough in a high-profile cyber fraud case, Lucknow police have arrested an accused involved in a sophisticated scam where a city-based businessman was digitally “arrested” and duped of Rs 1.18 crore, officials confirmed on Wednesday.

The arrest marks a significant step forward in dismantling a growing network of cyber criminals targeting citizens across the country.

The arrested individual, Kamlesh Kumar, a resident of Saifalpur, Malihabad, was taken into custody by the cyber crime unit following a detailed investigation on Wednesday. Kamlesh, who previously worked as a local sweet-maker, was allegedly recruited into the fraud ring just two months ago. He played a key role by providing his bank account and SIM card, which were used to receive and move large amounts of scam proceeds.

According to the police, the victim, Horak Bhattacharya, received a call on September 22, 2025, from a person identifying himself as Police Officer Vijay Khanna, who falsely claimed that a fake bank account had been opened in Bhattacharya's name and was being used in a fraud case. Shortly afterward, another caller, posing as ED officer Rahul Gupta, pressured the victim into cooperating with a “confidential investigation.”

The accused digitally “arrested” the victim via WhatsApp calls and chats, warning him not to speak to anyone. Under psychological pressure, Bhattacharya transferred over Rs 1.18 crore to multiple bank accounts, believing he was complying with law enforcement authorities.

In a chilling detail, the scammers even sent fake arrest warrants and court seizure notices to further terrify the victim into compliance.

A special investigation team led by Inspector Brijesh Kumar Yadav traced the fraudulent transactions and managed to apprehend Kamlesh. During interrogation, he confessed that Anurag, a man from Sitapur, had lured him with a promise of 2 per cent commission for opening a bank account and handing over associated documents and a SIM card.

Investigations have revealed that Anurag has links with foreign-based cyber criminals and receives 5 per cent commission in USDT (cryptocurrency) on each transaction. Kamlesh's bank account was found to be involved in 22 cyber crime complaints across India, according to the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (NCCRP).

Police also uncovered how these cyber criminals misuse SIM cards, Aadhaar data, and forged signatures, posing as police, ED, or CBI officials to threaten innocent people. Using fake interrogation room setups over video calls, they extract large sums of money while pretending to conduct official investigations.

This arrest is a crucial lead, and the police are now intensifying efforts to track down other members of the network, including the mastermind Anurag and his international collaborators.