NEW DEALS
Puducherry's Cyber Crime Police have uncovered a large-scale cyber-fraud network allegedly operated from inside an engineering college, turning it into what investigators call a "hotspot for cyber crime." The racket, linked to a Rs 90-crore scam, involved students selling bank accounts of friends and classmates to cyber-criminals who allegedly laundered the money through India before converting it into cryptocurrency via networks in Dubai and China.The case broke after two engineering students, Dinesh and Jayapratap, approached the police when their bank accounts were suddenly frozen. They had handed over their account details to their friend Harish - now an accused - who had allegedly collected details of over 20 bank accounts from students and members of the public. These were used as "mule accounts" to park scam proceeds. Investigators say at least Rs 7 crore was withdrawn through these accounts.
Seven persons - including four engineering graduates - have been arrested so far: Thomas alias Hayagriva, Harish, Ganesan, Govindaraj, Yashwin, Rahul and Ayyappan. Police seized Rs 5 lakh in cash, 171 cheque books, 75 ATM cards, 20 mobile phones, laptops, computers, several bank passbooks, credit cards and a Hyundai Verna car.
A key accused, Ganesan, allegedly coordinated with cyber-criminals in China to convert withdrawn funds into cryptocurrency, sending them via Telegram in exchange for commissions.Speaking to NDTV, Puducherry's Senior Superintendent of Police (Cyber Crime) Nithya Radhakrishnan, IPS, said the arrests mark a breakthrough not just against the "mules" but against those enabling online fraudsters. "We have been able to apprehend those who were laundering money for cyber-criminals, not merely the account holders. This shows how organised and international these networks have become," she said.
She warned that sharing bank credentials, even with friends, could have serious legal and financial consequences.
The Puducherry Police have reiterated their appeal to the public not to share bank account details, ATM cards or online banking credentials with anyone, and never allow others to operate their accounts.
# From Lecture Halls to Laundering: How Puducherry Engineering Students Ran a Rs 90-Crore Cyber Scam
In the sun-drenched coastal enclave of Puducherry, where French colonial charm meets modern Indian hustle, a dark underbelly was exposed this week. What started as casual chit-chat among college buddies—sharing bank details for "easy cash"—unraveled into a sophisticated Rs 90-crore cyber fraud syndicate. Seven young men, four of them fresh engineering graduates, were arrested by the Cyber Crime Police, turning a sleepy campus into an unlikely hub for international money laundering. As frozen accounts sparked complaints, authorities peeled back layers of deceit linking local lads to Chinese cybercriminals. This isn't just a bust; it's a wake-up call on how digital temptation preys on youth.
The arrests, announced on November 26, 2025, followed a routine probe that snowballed into one of Puducherry's biggest cyber hauls. Senior Superintendent of Police (Cyber Crime) Nithya Radhakrishnan called it a "hotspot for cyber crime," where trust among friends was weaponized for illicit gains.
## The Spark: From Frozen Accounts to Full-Scale Raid
It all ignited with two innocent complaints. Engineering students Dinesh and Jayapratap, frustrated by their bank accounts being locked due to "suspicious transactions," approached the police. What they didn't know: Their details had been casually handed over to a peer, Harish, who promised quick money but delivered a gateway to fraud. As investigators dug deeper, they uncovered a web of over 20 "mule accounts"—bank profiles sold to scammers for routing dirty money.
Puducherry's Cyber Crime Wing moved swiftly, raiding hideouts and nabbing the key players. The operation wasn't crude phishing; it was organized laundering, siphoning nearly Rs 7 crore through these accounts before converting proceeds into cryptocurrency for overseas escape. The total racket? A staggering Rs 90 crore, funneled from pan-India scams into international channels, primarily Dubai and China.
## Anatomy of the Scam: Friends, Funds, and Foreign Links
At the heart was a betrayal of brotherhood. Harish, an engineering graduate, played the collector-in-chief, sweet-talking 20 classmates and outsiders into sharing sensitive bank info under the guise of "harmless favors" or small commissions. These accounts became mules—temporary vessels for cyber fraudsters to park and transfer scam loot from victims nationwide.
Enter Ganesan, the tech-savvy linchpin and another engineering alum. He'd withdraw cash from the mules (often in chunks to evade alerts), then hawk it to Chinese cybercriminals via Telegram. In return? Fat commissions for converting rupees to crypto, vanishing the trail across borders. "We have been able to apprehend those who were laundering money for cyber-criminals, not merely the account holders," SSP Radhakrishnan emphasized, highlighting the syndicate's sophistication. "This shows how organised and international these networks have become."
The other arrests—Govindaraj and Yashwin (fellow engineers), plus Rahul, Ayyappan, and Thomas alias Hayagriva—filled supporting roles: handling withdrawals, managing gadgets, and shuttling funds. Their engineering campus? A fertile recruiting ground, where WiFi and wanderlust met easy prey.
| Key Player | Role in the Racket | Background |
|------------|--------------------|------------|
| **Harish** | Account collector; duped 20+ students | Engineering graduate |
| **Ganesan** | Laundering coordinator; crypto conversions | Engineering graduate; Telegram liaison to China |
| **Govindaraj & Yashwin** | Mule management; withdrawals | Engineering graduates |
| **Rahul, Ayyappan, Thomas (Hayagriva)** | Logistics and cash handling | Local accomplices |
## The Haul: From Chequebooks to Cars
Police didn't just nab suspects—they stripped the operation bare. Raids yielded a treasure trove of tools for the trade:
| Seized Items | Quantity | Purpose |
|--------------|----------|---------|
| **Cash** | Rs 5 lakh | Immediate proceeds |
| **Cheque Books** | 171 | Forgery and transfers |
| **ATM Cards** | 75 | Unauthorized withdrawals |
| **Mobile Phones** | 20 | Communication with fraudsters |
| **Laptops/Computers** | Multiple | Transaction tracking and crypto wallets |
| **Credit Cards & Passbooks** | Various | Account access |
| **Vehicle** | Hyundai Verna | Mobility for cash runs |
This arsenal underscores the scam's scale: Not a basement hobby, but a full-fledged enterprise exploiting India's booming digital banking.
## Aftermath: Charges, Chases, and Campus Chill
The seven now face charges under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and IT Act for cheating, forgery, and money laundering. More arrests loom as cops trace the Chinese connections—potentially unraveling a global fraud web. Victims, mostly unwitting students, are reeling: Frozen funds, ruined credit scores, and shattered trust.
Puducherry Police are ramping up awareness drives in colleges, warning against "free money" lures. But the ripple? A dent in youth faith—engineering dreams derailed by quick-cash greed.
## Lessons from the Laptop Launderers: Guard Your Digital Gates
This Puducherry plot exposes cyber crime's new frontier: Campuses as crime scenes, where algorithms meet ambition gone awry. Takeaways for students (and everyone):
- **Never Share Details**: Bank info isn't "just a favor." Use virtual accounts for trials; enable two-factor alerts.
- **Spot the Mule Trap**: Unsolicited "jobs" promising easy bucks? Red flag. Verify via official channels.
- **Tech as Shield**: Apps like BHIM or bank alerts can flag anomalies early. Report to cybercrime.gov.in pronto.
- **Educate the Ecosystem**: Colleges, step up—mandatory cyber hygiene workshops over just coding classes.
In a nation losing Rs 1.25 lakh crore to cyber frauds annually (per NCRB), stories like this aren't anomalies; they're alarms. These weren't masterminds—just misguided grads chasing crypto highs. Will Puducherry's bust stem the tide, or is it just the tip of the iceberg? Share your thoughts: Ever dodged a similar scam?
*Sources: Times Now, News18, The Hindu.*
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