Chennai: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) announced on Saturday that four individuals from Pallipattu town in Tiruvallur district were arrested for their involvement in cyber fraud. The accused, identified as Tamilarasan Kuppan (29), Prakash (26), Aravindan (23), and Ajith (28), were found to have set up shell companies and bank accounts to launder money obtained from various cyber fraud schemes. Following investigations into a suspicious bank account transaction amounting to 2.6 crore, the ED conducted searches in Tiruvallur and apprehended the suspects. The Bengaluru court handling ED cases granted a four-day custody of the accused to the investigative agency. According to sources, the individuals were part of a WhatsApp group comprising Chinese scammers, who directed them to facilitate the laundering of illicit funds through shell companies. Tamilarasan, along with Ajith, Prakash, and Aravindan, operated a syndicate that assisted cyber fraudsters by providing fake directors, addresses, and documents for the shell companies. They collaborated with bank personnel to open accounts where the proceeds of cyber frauds were laundered. The agency seized an account containing 2.8 crore in the name of a shell company named Cyberforest Technology Private Limited in Bandhan Bank. This case relates to a 2.6 crore scam perpetrated on a businessman in Jaipur by Chinese fraudsters posing as government officials. The Jaipur cybercrime police filed a case in early September, prompting the ED to take over the investigation based on multiple FIRs from state police across the country which led them to Tiruvallur. Prior to this, four individuals had been arrested by the ED in August in Bengaluru. The agency has conducted 17 searches and seized significant evidence, including mobile phones and digital devices.Electronic devices. Investigation under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 has, so far, revealed more than 28 crore in proceeds generated from 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) stated that the accused Tamilarasan Kuppan, 29, Prakash, 26, Aravindan, 23, and Ajith, 28, established shell companies and opened bank accounts to launder the criminal proceeds from various cyber frauds.

After conducting searches in Tiruvallur related to a 2.6 crore transaction through a suspicious bank account, the ED arrested the four men. The Bengaluru court for ED cases granted the investigation agency four-day custody of the accused. The group collaborated with Chinese scammers in a WhatsApp group to assist in money laundering activities using shell companies. Tamilarasan, along with Ajith, Prakash, and Aravindan, operated a syndicate to help cyber fraudsters with setting up dummy directors, addresses, and documents for shell companies. They interacted with bank officials to open accounts through which the illicit proceeds from cyber scams were laundered.

The agency froze an account with a deposit of 2.8 crore in the name of a shell company, Cyberforest Technology Private Limited, at Bandhan Bank. This case involves the defrauding of a businessman in Jaipur for 2.6 crore by Chinese scammers impersonating various central government agencies. Jaipur cybercrime police filed a case in early September, which was subsequently taken up by the ED as part of its investigation based on multiple FIRs across the country.

Earlier, the ED had arrested Shashi Kumar M, Sachin M, Kiran S K, and Charan Raj in August in Bengaluru in a related case.Up to this point, 17 searches have been carried out and incriminating material, such as mobile phones and other digital devices, has been seized. The ongoing investigation under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 (PMLA) has uncovered proceeds exceeding 28 crore derived from cyber scams.