Mainpuri | Updated: Sat, 06 Dec 2025, 11:51 PM IST

The Cyber Crime Police in Mainpuri on Saturday arrested four members of a fraud gang accused of cheating people in the name of providing cold drink and packaged water dealership. Police recovered seven mobile phones, two motorcycles, and ₹2,900 in cash from their possession.

They placed ads on JustDial to trap victims

SP City Arun Kumar Singh said that several complaints had been received on the Government of India’s NCRP portal, following which the Cyber Crime Police began an investigation. It was found that the gang was operating within the district and luring people by posting fake advertisements for cold drink and water bottle dealership on JustDial.

Cyber Police Station in-charge Santosh Kumar, cyber expert Jogendra Chaudhary, along with Mahipal Bhadoriya and Manoj Kumar, conducted technical surveillance and traced the accused. They were arrested from Agra Road on Saturday.

Arrested accused

During interrogation, the arrested individuals identified themselves as:

• Krishna Gupta, resident of Mohalla Bharatwal

• Rohit Kashyap, resident of New Basti Gadiwan

• Prabhat Shankhwar, resident of Mohalla Bharatwal

• Krishna Sharma, resident of Nagla Pohpi, under Sadar Kotwali area

Offered dealership, wholesale rates and free fridge as bait

Police said that the gang members revealed their modus operandi:
Krishna Gupta posted the advertisement on JustDial with a fake mobile number. When interested people called for dealership inquiries, the accused would trap them by offering:

• Cold drink/water bottle supply at wholesale rates,

• Dealership allotment,

• A free refrigerator as a gift for joining.

They would first ask victims to pay 50% advance, and later demand additional money in the name of loading and transportation. The collected money was deposited in different bank accounts and withdrawn using ATMs.

Bank accounts and SIM cards were provided by accomplices

The accused also confessed that Rohit Kashyap and Krishna Sharma arranged bank accounts and SIM cards used for calling victims. Several complaints related to the phone numbers used by the gang have been registered, and further investigation is underway.