Former HDFC Bank Manager Arrested for Helping Cyber Fraud Network in Gurugram

In a major crackdown on cybercrime, the Cyber Crime Police Station (West), Gurugram, has arrested five individuals, including a former bank manager, for their involvement in providing bank accounts to cyber fraudsters. The arrests were made in Zirakpur, Punjab, and the accused are part of a wider network that tricked people into installing fake investment apps by sending fraudulent documents claiming to be from a SEBI-registered company.

According to Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), Cyber Crime, Priyanshu Diwan, the accused targeted victims through WhatsApp messages, sharing links and fake documents to make it appear that they were offering legitimate investment opportunities. Victims were lured with promises of high profits through stock market investments. Once the victims installed the app and began making transactions, their money was siphoned off through a series of fraudulent bank accounts.

Accused Identified and Items Seized

The five accused have been identified as:

• Chinta Manoj Kumar, from Guntur, Andhra Pradesh (former HDFC Bank manager)
• Gurvinder and Ravi, from Jind, Haryana
• Rohit Kumar, from Hisar, Haryana
• Akshay, from Una, Himachal Pradesh

The police seized the following from them:

• 7 mobile phones
• 2 laptops
• 2 high-limit current account kits (with daily transaction limits of ₹5 crore)

The accused were presented in court on Monday. The court granted two-day police remand for Chinta Manoj Kumar and Akshay, while Gurvinder, Ravi, and Rohit were sent to judicial custody. After completing the remand, Manoj and Akshay were also sent to jail.

How the Scam Was Operated

Investigations revealed that Chinta Manoj Kumar, a former HDFC Bank manager, had quit his job in 2024 due to pressure over sales targets. He purchased a high-limit current bank account for ₹80,000 from another accused named Vikas, who had earlier bought it from the original account holder for ₹40,000.

Manoj then handed the account to Rohit, offering him a 3% commission on every transaction. Rohit passed the account on to Akshay through Ravi and Gurvinder, with each layer in the chain receiving a share of the commission. Akshay, who was directly connected with cyber fraudsters via WhatsApp and Telegram, eventually delivered the bank accounts to the fraudsters, enabling them to siphon money from victims.

Case Origin: Victim Duped via WhatsApp

The case began on March 18, when a victim filed a complaint stating that on January 13, he had received a WhatsApp message from an unknown number. The message contained a link and a confirmation email along with documents falsely claiming SEBI registration. The victim was asked to install a mobile app, through which he was tricked into making multiple transactions, resulting in financial loss.

Widespread Cybercrime Network

This case is part of a larger crackdown by Gurugram Police. So far, they have arrested 34 bank employees involved in similar cyber fraud cases. In this specific case alone, 14 individuals have been arrested.

The police are continuing their investigation and say more arrests may follow. Authorities have urged citizens to avoid clicking on suspicious links and to verify financial schemes before making any investments, especially those promoted via social media or messaging apps.