16 Boys, Rs 1.07 Crore Cash, 'Mule Accounts': Here's What Was Happening In This Lucknow Flat

Last Updated:July 24, 2025, 12:29 IST

The gang lured victims via Telegram, made them win initially on a betting app to build trust, then rigged the game to ensure losses and siphoned off large sums of money

The gang members opened bank accounts in the names of poor and needy individuals, known as mule accounts. (News18 Hindi)

A gang involved in defrauding crores of rupees through online games and betting apps has been exposed in Lucknow. The police have arrested 16 individuals in connection with this fraud operating in the Gudamba area. The arrests were made from a flat in Smriti Apartment, which served as the gang’s operational base.

During the raid, the police recovered Rs 1,07,50,000 in cash from the suspects, along with 54 mobiles, 5 laptops, 79 ATM cards, 13 chequebooks, 22 passbooks, 2 tablets, and fake token notes. The gang employed a clever method: they would first contact potential victims through the Telegram app, encouraging them to download a specific gaming and betting app. Initially, the victims would win in the game, building their trust and prompting them to invest more money. However, once they invested a substantial amount, the gang would orchestrate their defeat and seize their money.

Among the arrested suspects, 12 are residents of Chhattisgarh and four of Gujarat. The gang members opened bank accounts in the names of poor and needy individuals, known as “mule accounts", where the defrauded money was deposited. They then withdrew the funds from these accounts using ATMs.

The police are currently investigating the network behind this gang to identify other individuals involved and determine the extent of the fraud. The Police Commissioner has announced a reward of Rs 1 lakh for the team that uncovered this case. Authorities have indicated that more arrests are expected as the investigation progresses.

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News india 16 Boys, Rs 1.07 Crore Cash, 'Mule Accounts': Here's What Was Happening In This Lucknow Flat