Bhadrak: A team of Bandra police from Mumbai today claimed to have cracked a cyber fraud to the tune of around Rs 35 Lakh. Police arrested five persons in this connection from Bhadrak district.

The five arrested have been identified as Pramod Kumar (26) alias Rabindra Behera from Erei locality of Charampa, Rakesh Kumar (25) alias Hariram Choudhury from Kuans, Subhendu (30) alias Nirakar Das from Baralapokhari, Jaydeep alias Amar Kumar Parida from Basahpur, and Manoj Kumar (29) alias Anadi Charan Rout from Mauda of Balipatana of the district.

According to an official source, two separate FIRs were previously lodged with the police alleging the fraud a few months ago. Acting on the FIRs, Bandra police launched a probe into the cybercrime leading to the arrest of five persons. They had duped an elderly man named Moses Vincent and others.

During a detailed probe, it was ascertained that the five youths were involved in the crime. Following which, a five-member team led by senior cops Poonam Yadav and Nitin Gachhe, arrived in Bhadrak. With the help of local police, the team tracked the mobile phones of accused persons.

Subsequently, Bandra police raided different places in Bhadrak town and arrested the criminals. The tricksters will be remanded to police custody and will be taken to Mumbai tomorrow. They will be interrogated to accumulate more information.

“It is a major crackdown and a detailed probe is underway,” a member of the probe team said.