Who Is IPS Kiran Yadav? Officer Behind Lucknow Police’s Massive Crackdown on International Cyber Fraud Call Centre Operating as ‘Mini Jamtara’
In one of the most significant cybercrime operations witnessed in Uttar Pradesh in recent years, Lucknow Police have dismantled an alleged international cyber fraud syndicate that was operating from the city’s well-known Summit Building in Gomti Nagar. The operation has exposed what investigators describe as a highly organised fake call centre that allegedly targeted foreign nationals, particularly citizens of the United States, through sophisticated online scams.
The late-night raid, carried out jointly by the Crime Branch and multiple police teams, resulted in the detention of 119 individuals, including 92 men and 27 women. Police also arrested two operations managers believed to be overseeing the functioning of the alleged racket.
During the search operation, officials seized 100 laptops, 178 mobile phones, computers, hard disks and several other electronic devices that investigators believe were being used to run the international cyber fraud network.
According to preliminary findings, the syndicate allegedly posed as technical support executives, bank officials and customer service representatives to deceive unsuspecting victims abroad. The accused reportedly convinced people to disclose confidential financial information or transfer money by creating fake emergencies involving banking services, taxation or computer security.
Investigators estimate that the racket generated between Rs 35 lakh and Rs 40 lakh every day, making it one of the largest cyber fraud operations uncovered in Uttar Pradesh in recent years.
The investigation has now expanded beyond the state, with police examining overseas connections, digital payment channels, bank accounts and suspected hawala transactions to identify the masterminds as well as the financial network supporting the operation.
The massive crackdown has attracted nationwide attention, with many comparing the operation to the infamous cybercrime hub of Jamtara in Jharkhand. Owing to its scale, sophistication and international reach, many have described the busted network as Lucknow’s own “Mini Jamtara.”
Who is IPS Officer Kiran Yadav?
The successful operation was spearheaded by IPS officer Kiran Yadav, who is currently serving as the Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (ADCP), Crime, in the Lucknow Commissionerate.
A 2021-batch Indian Police Service officer of the Uttar Pradesh cadre, Kiran Yadav has rapidly earned recognition for handling complex investigations involving organised crime and cyber offences. The recent operation against the international fraud syndicate has further established her as one of the state’s emerging young police leaders.
She secured All India Rank (AIR) 392 in the UPSC Civil Services Examination 2020 before joining the Indian Police Service.
Born on May 3, 1987, Kiran Yadav belongs to Sultanpur district in Uttar Pradesh. Her family has a strong academic and professional background. Her father, Shatrughan Singh Yadav, is an electrical engineer based in Chandigarh, while her brother, Suraj Yadav, is employed as an engineer with a Canadian company.
Strong Academic Credentials
Kiran Yadav comes from a commerce and finance background. She completed her B.Com (Honours) degree and also pursued studies in E-Commerce. She later prepared for the Chartered Accountancy (CA) qualification, reflecting her strong academic foundation in finance and accounting.
Before entering the civil services, she reportedly worked as an auditor under the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) in Punjab. That experience gave her valuable exposure to financial systems, auditing and public administration before she joined the police service.
Rising Through Uttar Pradesh Police
After being allotted the Uttar Pradesh cadre, Kiran Yadav initially served as an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) in the Lucknow Commissionerate.
Her performance in handling criminal investigations and maintaining law and order eventually earned her promotion as Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime). In this role, she has been responsible for supervising investigations into organised crime, cybercrime and several high-profile criminal cases.
The dismantling of the fake international call centre is being regarded as one of the biggest operations conducted under her leadership so far.
How the Cyber Fraud Network Functioned
According to investigators, the alleged racket recruited educated youngsters from different parts of the country, especially individuals fluent in English who could convincingly communicate using an American accent.
The fake call centre reportedly contacted citizens in the United States while pretending to represent banks, software companies, technology firms and customer support services.
Victims were allegedly informed that their bank accounts had been compromised, their computers had been infected with viruses, or that they faced urgent tax-related issues. Using these fabricated claims, the callers persuaded victims to reveal confidential banking information or transfer money to accounts controlled by the fraudsters.
Police suspect the organisation was functioning as part of a larger international cybercrime syndicate, with financial transactions allegedly routed through multiple bank accounts, digital wallets and suspected hawala channels to conceal the movement of funds.
Investigators are also probing whether the network had links with cybercriminal groups operating outside India.
Massive Recovery During the Raid
The scale of the operation became evident from the quantity of electronic equipment recovered during the searches.
Police seized 100 laptops, 178 mobile phones, desktop computers, hard disks and several digital storage devices believed to contain critical evidence about the functioning of the syndicate.
The electronic devices have now been sent for forensic examination. Investigators hope the digital evidence will help identify additional members of the network, establish overseas connections and trace the complete financial trail.
Officials are also analysing digital payment gateways, shell companies, bank accounts and other financial records to uncover the larger conspiracy behind the alleged fraud.
Probe Continues
The investigation remains at an active stage, and officials believe more arrests could follow as new evidence emerges.
Police teams are working to identify the individuals responsible for financing and coordinating the international operation while also examining suspected links with foreign cybercrime networks.
Authorities are confident that the forensic examination of the seized electronic devices will provide crucial leads regarding the syndicate’s communication channels, financial transactions and overseas associates.
The operation is being viewed as a significant success for the Uttar Pradesh Police in their ongoing campaign against organised cybercrime. Investigators believe the crackdown has dealt a major blow to an international fraud network that allegedly cheated foreign citizens of enormous sums through highly sophisticated online scams.
With investigations continuing at multiple levels, officials expect the case to uncover a much wider cybercrime ecosystem and potentially lead to further arrests in the coming weeks.
