A private hospital in Bihar’s Bhagalpur district became the focus of a cyber fraud investigation after police uncovered an alleged network operating from the building’s 5th floor. 5 people were arrested during a raid, while mobile phones, digital devices, banking material and other documents were seized.
Police said the accused allegedly used mule bank accounts to receive and transfer money linked to cyber fraud. The operation was reportedly being run from a concealed location inside the hospital in the Nathnagar area.
Acting on information about the alleged network, police conducted a raid at the premises. Investigators said the location was being used as an operational base, with the hospital environment potentially helping the activities avoid immediate suspicion.
The 5 arrested accused were identified as Krishna Kumar Soni, Tejaswi Kumar, Nandish Priyadarshi, Prahlad Kumar and Sant Kumar. Police said they came from different locations, including parts of Jharkhand and Bhagalpur district.
Investigators are now examining the individual roles of the accused and their possible connections to a wider cyber fraud network.
During the raid, police seized 15 mobile phones and 4 digital devices, including a laptop and other electronic equipment. They also recovered 7 banking-related documents, including ATM cards, UPI-related material and a chequebook.
In addition, police seized 4 identity documents and 1 motorcycle. The recovered material is being examined to establish how the alleged operation functioned and whether it can reveal links to other people or transactions.
The alleged use of mule bank accounts is a key focus of the investigation. Police suspect these accounts were used to receive fraudulent proceeds and transfer the money through multiple transactions, potentially making the financial trail harder to trace.
Investigators are examining bank accounts and transaction records linked to the accused. They are also looking into who may have arranged or controlled the accounts and whether additional individuals were involved in moving the money.
Bhagalpur City DSP Hemant Singh has warned shopkeepers against allowing unknown people to use their payment facilities or accounts for suspicious transactions. He specifically urged shop owners not to let strangers use their QR codes and cautioned against accepting cash in exchange for making digital payments through their business facilities.
Police warned that shopkeepers could face legal consequences if their accounts or payment infrastructure are used to move money connected to criminal activity.
Investigators are continuing to examine the seized devices, banking records and identity documents while tracing the financial transactions. The probe will focus on identifying additional links, understanding how the accounts were obtained and determining the full extent of the alleged cyber fraud network.
The case highlights how alleged cyber fraud operations can operate from ordinary premises while using bank accounts and digital payment systems to move funds.
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