Sophesticated Multi Level Marketing ring busted by India's Uttar Pradesh Police, 19 arrested

Varanasi, July 10, 2026, In a major breakthrough under the statewide Cy-Vazra (Cyber Vajra) campaign against cybercrime, the Cyber Crime Police Station of Varanasi Commissionerate has arrested 19 members of an inter-state organised gang, including its main operator, for running a sophisticated fake multi-level marketing (MLM) and pyramid chain network. The gang lured unemployed youth from Bihar, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and other states with promises of ₹25,000-per-month jobs, only to defraud them of crores of rupees. Around 300 trainee youths were safely rescued from the clutches of the racket.

The operation was carried out on the directions of senior officers and reflects the aggressive approach taken under the leadership of Uttar Pradesh Director General of Police (DGP) Shri Rajiv Krishna. Varanasi Police Commissioner Shri Mohit Agarwal had specifically instructed higher officers and the cyber crime police station to take the strictest action against cyber offenders. Under the able guidance of Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Crime Ms. Neetu Kadyan and Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (ADCP) Crime Shri Nripendra, and the effective leadership of Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Shri Vidush Saxena, two special teams of Cyber Crime Thana Varanasi were formed. The teams executed a swift, planned and decisive raid on the gang’s corporate-style office.

Modus Operandi: How the Scam Worked

The gang operated under the banner of a fake company called Mahadev Enterprises while claiming franchise rights of Royal Health India / Royal Health Wellness Private Limited, a multi-level marketing firm. They ran a well-organised cyber network that combined classic job fraud with illegal pyramid schemes.

• Job Lure: Gang members cold-called unemployed youth from Bihar, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh and other states, promising office jobs, Tata Company positions or agricultural work in Varanasi at a salary of ₹25,000 per month.
• Forced Extraction: Once the victims arrived in Varanasi, they were shown a plush corporate-style office, subjected to a sham interview, and forced to pay ₹30,000–₹35,000 as “joining fee / registration charges.” In return they received only a cheap kit worth ₹1,000–₹2,000 (clothes, oil, soap).
• Brainwashing & Pyramid Pressure: Victims were then sent to a training centre where they were psychologically manipulated and brainwashed. They were tempted with luxury lifestyles and pressured to recruit three new people each into the network. Failure to recruit meant no salary and no refund of the money paid.
• Bank Fraud Trail: Preliminary examination of main accused Deepak Kumar Shah’s bank accounts (SBI and HDFC) revealed approximately ₹4 crore credited in one year. The National Cybercrime Reporting Portal (NCRP) registered five complaints of job and UPI fraud from various states; four more written complaints were received, taking the total to nine. Detailed investigation into the financial trail is underway.

The racket was a classic combination of fake recruitment, forced money circulation and pyramid chaining, activities that fall under the Prize Chits and Money Circulation Schemes (Banning) Act and various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Information Technology Act.

List of All 19 Arrested Suspects

Police surrounded the premises and arrested the following 19 accused on the spot:

1. Deepak Kumar Shah (31) – s/o Bhuvaneshwar Shah, r/o Khuranda, Simultala, Jamui, Bihar (main operator / owner).
2. Suraj Yadav (21) – s/o Sanjay Yadav, r/o Katwar, Barsathi, Jaunpur, Uttar Pradesh.
3. Md. Said Akram (27) – s/o Md. Sahir, r/o Madhuvan Basa Vasapatti, Bajpatti, Sitamarhi, Bihar.
4. Deepak (25) – s/o Manoj Das, r/o Goriari, Singia, Samastipur, Bihar.
5. Jitendra Kushwaha (24) – s/o Vindravan Kushwaha, r/o Kararagan j, Harpalpur, Chhatarpur, Madhya Pradesh.
6. Virendra Prasad Verma (29) – s/o Ramsamujh Verma, r/o Jagdishpur Rajapur, Ronia, Antu, Pratapgarh, Uttar Pradesh.
7. Abhishek Ahirwar (19) – s/o Ramakant Ahirwar, r/o Itwa Khurd, Saraul, Baruasagar, Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh.
8. Satyendra Kumar Yadav alias Santan (23) – s/o Kamladev Yadav, r/o Palar Kalhadia, Andhrawari, Madhubani, Bihar.
9. Kanhaiya Kumar Shah alias Krishna Shah (21) – s/o Lalbahadur Shah, r/o Heerapatti Banmama Kakkardob, Lauki, Madhubani, Bihar.
10. Monu Kumar (29) – s/o Kamlesh Ram, r/o Bara, Ben, Nalanda, Bihar.
11. Md. Sonu (25) – s/o Md. Tahir, r/o Harsinghpur Jitwarpur, Sarairanjan, Samastipur, Bihar.
12. Rakesh Kumar (21) – s/o Rajkumar Rajvanshi, r/o Manjhla Nagma, Meskaur, Nawada, Bihar.
13. Rohit (20) – s/o Ramprasad, r/o Sarwa Hardoiya, Sindhauli, Sitapur, Uttar Pradesh.
14. Utkarsh Singh (23) – s/o Vinod Singh, r/o Katwar, Barsathi, Jaunpur, Uttar Pradesh.
15. Vivek Kumar Singh (28) – s/o Vijay Singh, r/o Basahatta alias Udaynagar, Baretha, Muzaffarpur, Bihar.
16. Bhagwan Das alias Arjun (18) – s/o Naval Kishore, r/o Jogsana, Baldev, Mathura, Uttar Pradesh.
17. Md. Shahbaz (29) – s/o Md. Suleman, r/o Chaparela Jhagarchak, Phalka, Katihar, Bihar.
18. Pinku Kumar (23) – s/o Narendra Yadav, r/o Bhagwanpur, Hulasganj, Jehanabad, Bihar.
19. Golu Kumar alias Shivshankar Kumar (20) – s/o Nagina Prasad, r/o Baradimath, Islampur, Nalanda, Bihar.

Recoveries

Personal search and pointing-out by the accused led to the recovery of:

• 20 smartphones (Android and iPhone, including iPhone 17 Pro, iQOO, OPPO, Realme, Vivo, Samsung, Redmi, Infinix) with SIMs and IMEI numbers containing fraud-related chats and voice notes.
• 1 ASUS laptop.
• Two four-wheelers:
  • White Grand Vitara (JH 15 AG 6237) – recovered on the pointing of Suraj Yadav and purchased from scam proceeds.
  • Black Kia Carens (UP 62 DA 6995) – recovered on the pointing of Utkarsh Singh.
• Cash of ₹4,020.
• Approximately ₹1 lakh held in bank accounts.
• Several incriminating corporate documents from the Mahadev Enterprises office.

Police Team That Executed the Operation

Leadership & Supervision

• DGP Uttar Pradesh – Shri Rajiv Krishna
• Police Commissioner, Varanasi – Shri Mohit Agarwal
• DCP (Crime) – Ms. Neetu Kadyan
• ADCP (Crime) – Shri Nripendra
• ACP – Shri Vidush Saxena

Arresting Team – Cyber Crime Thana, Varanasi

• In-charge Inspector Udayveer Singh
• Inspector Yogendra Prasad
• Inspector Vipin Yadav
• Sub-Inspector Alok Singh Yadav
• Sub-Inspector Sanjeev Kanaujia
• Sub-Inspector Alok Ranjan Singh
• Sub-Inspector Shailendra Kumar
• Sub-Inspector Vivek Singh
• Head Constable Punita Yadav
• MHC Sadhana Singh
• Head Constable Rajnikant
• Head Constable Chandrashekhar Yadav
• Head Constable Devendra Yadav
• Constable Prithviraj Singh
• Constable Suryabhan Singh
• Assistant Manish Kumar Singh
• Constable Ankit Prajapati
• Assistant Avneesh Singh
• Assistant Dilip Kumar
• Assistant Javed Akhtar
• Constable Jatin Kumar
• Constable Md. Parvez
• Head Constable (Grade-A) Shyamsundar Yadav
• Assistant Mukesh Kumar
• Assistant Jatin Kumar
• Assistant Triloki Nath
• Assistant Suryakumar
• Assistant Dharmendra Yadav
• Assistant Ravindra Yadav
• Head Constable Preeti Singh
• Head Constable Sangeeta Devi
• Head Constable Ankita Singh
• Constable Vandana Kumari
• Head Constable Vijay Kumar (government vehicle driver – UP 65 AG 1071)

Campaign Impact So Far

Under the Cy-Vazra campaign spearheaded by DGP Rajiv Krishna, Cyber Crime Thana and Pratibimb Cell of Varanasi Commissionerate have so far registered 8 cases and arrested a total of 28 hardcore cyber criminals.

Public Awareness Message & Policy Recommendations

Cyber Crime Police, Varanasi, has issued the following safety advisories, which also point toward much-needed policy and regulatory strengthening:

1. Beware of attractive fake advertisements – Never fall for “direct recruitment without exam” or “earn big from home” offers circulating on social media or messaging apps without verification.
2. Never pay joining / registration / training fees – No reputed company or government organisation asks for advance money, training fees or kit charges in the name of providing a job. Demand for such payment is itself a red flag.
3. Avoid MLM and pyramid chain traps – If a company pressures you to recruit others or sell products instead of giving actual work, it is likely an illegal money-circulation scheme. Stay away.
4. Verify company credentials – Always check the company’s registration status on the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) portal or with the relevant department before joining.
5. Report cyber fraud immediately – Call the National Cybercrime Helpline 1930 or file a complaint on www.cybercrime.gov.in.

The arrested persons are being produced before the competent court and further investigation, including forensic examination of digital devices and detailed financial probe, is in progress.

This article is based on the official Press Note issued by the Office of the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime), Police Commissionerate, Varanasi, dated 10 July 2026.