New Delhi, May 27: The Cyber Police Station of Central District Police on Wednesday busted an interstate cyber fraud network involved in supplying bank account kits, SIM cards, and ATM cards that were used in online fraud cases. Three key operatives linked to the racket have been arrested from Haryana, Punjab, and Himachal Pradesh.

According to police, the accused targeted innocent citizens by impersonating Paytm employees and gaining access to victims’ mobile phones on the pretext of updating KYC details or Paytm settings.

The breakthrough came after a complaint was lodged at PS Cyber Central by a tea seller residing in South Patel Nagar, Delhi. The complainant alleged that an unidentified man visited his tea stall posing as a Paytm employee and offered to update the KYC settings on his mobile phone. During the process, the fraudster dishonestly gained access to the device and fraudulently transferred Rs 90,000 from the victim’s bank account.

Following the complaint, police conducted a preliminary enquiry and technical examination of the transaction trail. Subsequently, FIR No. 26/2026 dated May 15, under Section 318(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), was registered at PS Cyber Central, and an investigation was initiated.

Considering the seriousness and interstate nature of the offence, a dedicated police team comprising SI Ravinder Kumar, HC Deepak, and HC Jai Kishan was formed under the supervision of SHO/Cyber Inspector Yograj Dalal and the overall supervision of ACP/OPS/Central Shri Padam Singh Rana.

During the investigation, the team carried out extensive technical surveillance, beneficiary account verification, bank transaction analysis, CCTV footage examination, digital profiling, and financial trail analysis. Investigators found that the cheated amount had been transferred into a Punjab National Bank account allegedly being used for routing proceeds of cyber fraud.

Further scrutiny of KYC documents, transaction records, and registered mobile numbers led to the identification of accused Vishesh Singh, a resident of Panchkula, Haryana. Police later discovered that beneficiary bank accounts, SIM cards, and ATM kits were being procured and supplied through an organised interstate network for use in cyber fraud activities.

Acting on technical inputs and local Intelligence, police teams conducted multiple raids in Panchkula, Haryana; Zirakpur in Mohali; and adjoining areas of Haryana and Punjab. Sustained surveillance and field verification ultimately resulted in the arrest of three accused persons on May 19.

The arrested accused have been identified as Vishesh Singh, 22, a resident of Panchkula, Haryana; Sachin Maurya, 22, also from Panchkula; and Ashish Sharma, 27, a resident of Kottla Kallan in Himachal Pradesh’s Una district.

According to police, Vishesh Singh acted as a beneficiary bank account holder and supplied bank account kits and SIM cards for cyber fraud activities. Sachin Maurya allegedly worked as a facilitator involved in collecting bank account kits and supplying them to other cyber fraud operatives. Ashish Sharma was allegedly responsible for handling and supplying multiple bank account kits to cyber fraud associates operating in different locations.

During interrogation, the accused disclosed that they used to receive commissions for arranging and supplying bank accounts, ATM cards, registered SIM cards, and banking credentials. These were later used by cyber fraudsters for routing and withdrawing cheated money in various fraud cases.

Police said the accused acted as intermediaries between bank account providers and organised cyber fraud syndicates operating in different states through mule bank accounts.

Technical surveillance, WhatsApp profiling, digital communication analysis, and mobile number linkage examination further revealed the active involvement of Sachin Maurya and Ashish Sharma in arranging, collecting, and circulating bank account kits and SIM cards to cyber fraudsters.

Investigators also found that the accused extensively used social media platforms such as Instagram and WhatsApp for communication, coordination, and transferring banking kits among members of the cyber fraud network.

Analysis of the seized mobile phones revealed incriminating digital evidence, including WhatsApp chats related to the supply of bank accounts and commission distribution, contact details of suspected cyber fraud associates, social media communications with co-accused persons, and details of mule bank accounts, SIM cards, and beneficiary account credentials.

Police recovered four mobile phones allegedly used for circulating bank account details and coordinating cyber fraud activities.

Further technical examination has revealed possible links with several other cyber fraud complaints and interstate cyber fraud modules. Investigation regarding the identification of additional co-accused persons, tracing of cheated money, and identification of other victims is currently underway.

Mumbai: The controversy surrounding Bakri Eid preparations in Mira Road intensified on Wednesday after BJP corporator Priti Satam strongly opposed the alleged use of public and common residential spaces for goat sacrifice rituals, warning of street protests if authorities fail to act.

Speaking amid rising tensions in the area, Satam said ritual sacrifice of goats cannot legally be conducted in open public spaces or common areas inside housing societies and urged civic authorities and police to strictly enforce existing rules.

“They are openly carrying out the ritual sacrifice of goats; we are opposing this because such sacrifices cannot legally be performed in public spaces. There is a circular issued by the BMC. We successfully had this practice cancelled last year as well,” Satam said. She further warned that protests would intensify if authorities did not intervene.

“The police administration and the BMC authorities present here must exercise prudence in their decision-making. These rituals should be conducted only at the specific sites officially allotted for them, not in the open common areas of residential societies. They must strictly adhere to the established rules and regulations. If no action is taken, then all of us will take to the streets,” she added.

The row erupted after a temporary shed was erected inside the upscale Poonam Cluster residential complex in Mira Road for Bakri Eid-related Qurbani preparations. Following objections raised by Hindu residents and local organisations, municipal authorities demolished the structure.

However, tensions escalated after attempts were reportedly made to reconstruct the shed, triggering fresh protests and heated confrontations between groups from both communities. The situation turned violent late at night when a youth was allegedly attacked with a knife during the unrest.

The dispute soon spilled onto nearby roads, leading to scuffles and chaos in the area. Police were forced to intervene and carried out a lathi charge at several locations to disperse crowds and prevent further escalation.

Tensions worsened further after activists allegedly linked to Sakal Hindu Samaj and Bajrang Dal brought a pig near the Bakra Mandi protest site, triggering outrage and raising fears of communal flare-ups.

A heavy police deployment continues in Mira Road, with officials closely monitoring the situation to prevent any further deterioration of law and order ahead of Bakri Eid celebrations.

Mumbai, May 26: A legal representation has been filed before the Mayor of Mumbai, objecting to a proposed blanket ban on Bakri Eid Qurbani within housing societies, chawls and residential complexes across the city.

The legal notice, issued by advocate Faiyaz Alam Shaikh, challenges a civic communication dated 24 May 2026, arguing that a sweeping, indiscriminate prohibition on a recognised religious practice stands as arbitrary, disproportionate and legally vulnerable under Articles 14, 21 and 25 of the Constitution of India, which guarantee equality, the right to life and freedom of religion.

According to the notice, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) already possesses a robust, regulated framework for managing Bakri Eid permissions. This existing structure operates via designated locations, ward-level supervision and online permission channels, including the MyBMC portal.

Historically, regulated Qurbani arrangements have been permitted within approved premises and specific common areas of housing societies, provided they comply with sanitation norms, municipal licensing and No Objection Certificates (NOCs).

Shaikh contended that replacing an established, structured permission mechanism with a total ban—without any proportionality analysis or public consultation—violates basic constitutional tenets of fairness and non-discrimination.

The notice highlights that the Bombay High Court has consistently favoured strict regulation, hygiene and supervision over outright, indiscriminate bans.

Furthermore, the legal notice draws attention to the “Mumbai Qurbani Permission White Paper” submitted by Adv. Shaikh on 21 May 2026. The paper outlines comprehensive policy proposals, including uniform year-round regulatory guidelines, single-window permissions, strict veterinary and sanitation Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), and a transparent grievance redressal mechanism.

The representation has urged the civic administration to reconsider the restriction and instead engage in consultation regarding the White Paper. Served as a preventive legal objection, the notice said that if no corrective action is taken, appropriate legal proceedings will be initiated before the Bombay High Court to quash the proposed ban.