The Uttarakhand Special Task Force (STF) has arrested Suraj Maula, the alleged kingpin behind a ₹3.20 crore online fraud racket. The accused, operating under a fake corporate identity, defrauded a victim in Tehri Garhwal by impersonating a company Managing Director through WhatsApp and other digital platforms. The arrest was made from Khardah Police Station area under Barrackpore Commissionerate in West Bengal.
This swift and coordinated action was led under the supervision of Uttarakhand Director General of Police, Deepam Seth, and STF Senior Superintendent of Police Navneet Singh.
Cyber Deception with Fake Identity, WhatsApp Calls, and Bogus Bank Accounts
The case surfaced in May 2025 when a resident of Tehri Garhwal received a message introducing the sender as a Managing Director associated with a new project. The accused, using a fake identity, urged the complainant to transfer ₹1.95 crore as an advance payment to the account of “Shyam Trading Company.” Further communication and manipulation led the victim to transfer a total of ₹3.20 crore to multiple bank accounts, all linked to fraudulent entities.
The accused used WhatsApp calls and messages to build trust with the victim, impersonating a high-ranking corporate official. The entire operation was meticulously designed to mimic a legitimate corporate transaction, including the use of counterfeit Aadhaar details, bank credentials, and multiple SIM cards.
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Arrest and Seizure: Cyber Police Trace the Digital Footprints
Once the fraud was suspected, the case was escalated to the STF. A cyber investigation was launched under the guidance of DySP Ankush Mishra and Inspector Tribhuvan Rautla. Cyber Crime Police Station, Dehradun, coordinated with banks, telecom providers, and Meta (parent company of WhatsApp) to gather technical evidence. Analysis of data trails, including mobile numbers and bank transactions, revealed a complex web of deception and identified Suraj Maula as the prime accused.
A team comprising Inspector Tribhuvan Rautla, Additional US Inspector Sumer Rawat, Head Constable Pawan Kumar, and Constable Ketan Bisht traveled to West Bengal and arrested the accused. During the search, police recovered:
- 02 mobile phones with 03 SIM cards
- 01 driving license
- 01 Aadhaar card and its photocopy
- 03 debit cards
- 02 additional SIM cards
Modus Operandi and Public Awareness Campaign
According to police, Suraj Maula’s modus operandi involved impersonating senior officials through WhatsApp, gaining the confidence of finance executives, and persuading them to make large payments to fake business entities. The fraud took place rapidly—within a month, transactions worth crores were funneled through various disguised accounts.
The STF believes this case is part of a larger network of cybercriminals operating across state lines. Investigations are ongoing to uncover accomplices and trace the full financial trail.
In light of this case, SSP Navneet Singh has urged the public to remain cautious of unsolicited messages, investment scams, and job offers received via unknown sources. He advised not to search for customer care numbers on Google, avoid interacting with strangers on social media, and never share personal documents or financial details without verifying the authenticity of the source.
He emphasized that citizens must report suspicious activities immediately to the nearest police station or by calling the 1930 Cybercrime Helpline.