Chennai: The day after detaining four individuals from Pallipattu town in Tiruvallur district for participating in cyber fraud, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) reported on Saturday that the accused Tamilarasan Kuppan, 29, Prakash, 26, Aravindan, 23, and Ajith, 28 established shell companies and initiated bank accounts to launder money obtained from various cyber fraud activities. Following a transaction of 2.6 crore through a suspicious bank account, the ED conducted searches in Tiruvallur and subsequently apprehended the individuals. The Bengaluru court dealing with ED cases approved a four-day custody to the investigation agency for further inquiries. These individuals were part of a WhatsApp group linked to Chinese scammers and assisted in laundering the illicit funds gained from cyber fraud through shell companies. Tamilarasan, along with Ajith, Prakash, and Aravindan, operated a network to aid cyber fraudsters in setting up fake directors, addresses, and documents for shell companies. The agency discovered and froze an account holding 2.8 crore under the name of a shell company known as Cyberforest Technology Private Limited in Bandhan Bank. This case revolves around a businessman in Jaipur being defrauded of 2.6 crore by Chinese scammers posing as government agencies. Jaipur cybercrime police initiated a case in early September, leading to ED's involvement based on various state police FIRs that led to Tiruvallur. Previously, in August, ED detained Shashi Kumar M, Sachin M, Kiran S K, and Charan Raj in Bengaluru. The agency has conducted 17 searches and seized incriminating items like mobile phones as part of this investigation.Digital devices. Investigation under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 has uncovered proceeds totaling more than 28 crore linked to cyber scams. In Chennai, following the arrest of four young individuals from Pallipattu town in Tiruvallur district for their involvement in cyber fraud, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) announced that the accused individuals, Tamilarasan Kuppan (29), Prakash (26), Aravindan (23), and Ajith (28), established shell companies and opened bank accounts to launder the illicit gains derived from various cyber fraud activities.

After conducting searches in Tiruvallur in connection with a suspicious 2.6 crore transaction through a bank account, the ED apprehended the four culprits. The Bengaluru court handling ED cases has granted a four-day custody of the accused to the investigation agency.

Belonging to a WhatsApp group with Chinese scammers, the gang collaborated to facilitate the laundering of money obtained from cyber frauds using shell companies. The syndicate, led by Tamilarasan with the assistance of Ajith, Prakash, and Aravindan, worked together to create dummy directors, addresses, and falsified documents for these shell companies. They engaged with bank personnel to open accounts through which the proceeds of cyber fraud were laundered, as per sources.

The agency froze an account containing 2.8 crore deposited in the name of a shell company called Cyberforest Technology Private Limited at Bandhan Bank. This case involves the cheating of a businessman in Jaipur amounting to 2.6 crore by Chinese scammers impersonating various central government agencies. The Jaipur cybercrime police initiated a case in early September.

The ED intervened in the investigation based on multiple FIRs filed by state police across the country and identified the transaction in Tiruvallur. Earlier, in August, the ED had arrested Shashi Kumar M, Sachin M, Kiran S K, and Charan Raj in Bengaluru.Up to now, 17 searches have been carried out and incriminating material such as mobile phones and digital devices have been seized. The ongoing investigation under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 has revealed proceeds exceeding 28 crore arising from cyber scams.