Agra: In a major breakthrough against organised cybercrime, the Agra Police have dismantled a Dubai-controlled international cyber fraud syndicate, arresting 32 accused after a meticulously planned two-month undercover operation. The crackdown has exposed a sophisticated network that operated across borders, using fake companies, encrypted communication platforms and layered financial channels to dupe victims in India and abroad.
According to police officials, the alleged mastermind of the operation is Nitin Bhagaur, a native of Agra who once ran a small sweet shop before entering the cyber fraud ecosystem. Over the years, he is believed to have built a sprawling digital scam empire and shifted base to Dubai, from where he remotely controlled operations in India. Authorities are preparing to seek a Red Corner Notice against him through central agencies.
Investigators revealed that Bhagaur floated shell companies—Medlar Global Excellence and Medlar Service Group—to legitimise the proceeds of crime, routing fraud money as business income. Despite his alleged role as kingpin, he ensured that no phone numbers, email IDs or bank accounts directly linked him to fraudulent activities, relying instead on trusted handlers and encrypted apps.
The Indian wing of the syndicate was allegedly managed by Ravi Rathore, a resident of Tajganj in Agra. Rathore is accused of recruiting members, arranging SIM cards and bank accounts, training recruits and maintaining constant coordination with the Dubai-based handler. Several young recruits were reportedly sent to Dubai on company-sponsored visas, where they were further trained for cyber fraud operations targeting victims across multiple countries.
The case came to light following a complaint registered on the NCRB portal. Using advanced technical tools, including the Pratibimbh application, police traced suspicious activity involving over 200 mobile numbers and multiple bank accounts. The investigation gained momentum after officers detected a direct financial transaction linking a fraudulent Indian account to one of Bhagaur’s Dubai-based companies, revealing the full money trail and operational hierarchy.
To avoid implicating innocent individuals whose documents may have been misused, the Agra Police adopted a rare undercover strategy. Officers posed as cyber criminals, account buyers and document brokers, allowing them to directly interact with key facilitators and identify deliberate collaborators.
In the first phase, 24 accused were arrested from Agra, followed by the arrest of Rathore, taking the total to 32. Police officials said the gang operated on a strict “need-to-know” basis, ensuring that members were unaware of the larger network, making detection difficult.
ADC (City) Aditya Kumar confirmed that further action is underway, including international coordination to bring the main accused to justice. “Key digital and financial evidence has been recovered. More arrests are likely as the investigation progresses,” he said.
Officials described the operation as one of the most significant cybercrime crackdowns in the region, highlighting how local operators can evolve into global fraud networks using technology, shell companies and vulnerable youth. The case has once again underlined the growing challenge of transnational cybercrime and the need for coordinated enforcement across borders.
