The Surat City Cyber Crime Cell apprehended an 18-year-old Android app developer from Uttar Pradesh linked to a cyber fraud incident involving the use of fake APK files posing as legitimate banking apps. The accused, Rohit Sakai, a Class 11 dropout, was taken into custody in Kanpur after a coordinated operation by the Cyber Crime Cell. The arrest followed a complaint regarding a deceptive file named “PNB One.apk” received by a victim on WhatsApp.
Police alleged that Sakai, in collaboration with others, created a counterfeit APK resembling the Punjab National Bank app to gain unauthorized access to victims’ phones. Upon downloading the file, the attackers reportedly hacked the devices, accessed the victim’s bank account, and transferred Rs 5 lakh to another account. The case involves multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, and the Information Technology (Amendment) Act, 2008.
The investigation revealed that Sakai developed numerous APK files for cybercrime groups in Jharkhand, selling them to different gangs for a fee. It was disclosed that he crafted 121 distinct APK files, distributed mainly via WhatsApp, resulting in financial losses amounting to approximately Rs 64.38 crore. The accused’s alleged activities included developing applications for various banks and organizations, leading to fraudulent transactions across India.
