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AI, fake Army officer profiles and blackmail: UP cops bust extortion racket linked to man's suicide
Sonbhadra police say a multi-state cybercrime racket used fake Army and police profiles to threaten and extort people, allegedly driving a man to suicide. Five suspects from Rajasthan were arrested on May 10 as the investigation linked online threats to financial withdrawals and mule accounts.
Why It Matters
The case highlights online impersonation, AI-assisted video fabrication and cross-state criminal networks, raising concerns about cybercrime and extortion via social media.
Timeline
5 Events
Arrests of five accused; details of operation emerge
May 10, 2026
Five accused from Rajasthan's Alwar and Khairthal-Tijara districts are arrested; names are Afsil Khan, Noor Mohammad alias Nanda, Rashid, Washim and Barish. The gang used fake social media identities with Army/police officer photographs to threaten victims. Main accused Afsil Khan allegedly used AI tools to create obscene videos for blackmail; Nanda and Rashid withdrew money via ATMs; Washim arranged fake documents to open bank accounts and procure ATM cards; Barish provided mule accounts for routing funds. Police recovered five mobile phones, two ATM cards linked to mule accounts, SIM cards and ₹6,000 in cash.
Investigation moves to Rajasthan with CCTV review
May 2026
A police team led by the cyber police station in-charge travels to Rajasthan with local police assistance to analyse CCTV footage from bank ATMs and other locations to identify the accused.
Complaint leads to case registration and JIT formation
April 29, 2026
Ankita Pathak approaches Sonbhadra SP Abhishek Verma seeking help; police register a case at Robertsganj police station under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and form a joint investigation team comprising cyber crime police, Special Operations Group and surveillance cell.
Death of Rajendra Pathak by suicide
April 8, 2026
Rajendra Pathak dies by suicide at his home on the night of April 7-8; later, his family finds evidence on his mobile indicating online threats and extortion by unknown persons.
Mobile analysis and financial trail identified
April 2026
Investigators analyse the victim's mobile; chats, calls and video calls are reviewed; video calls are traced to Alwar district, Rajasthan; money transfers are linked to a bank account in Maharashtra and cash withdrawals occur from Bhiwadi, Rajasthan.