Lucknow: Two personnel attached to the Enforcement Directorate’s Lucknow Zonal Office have been arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) over allegations that they sought and took a bribe of Rs 5 lakh, according to a PTI report.
The accused have been identified as Deepak Kumar, an Enforcement Officer, and Manoj Dwivedi, a Head Constable on deputation to the ED’s Lucknow Zonal Office.
The CBI said it opened the case on October 23 after receiving a complaint alleging that Dwivedi had sought money from the father of the complainant. The father had allegedly been issued two ED summonses — in August and September this year — in connection with a case being probed by the agency.
Acting on the complaint, the CBI said it set a trap and caught Dwivedi in the act of demanding and collecting Rs 5 lakh. The money was allegedly being taken for Kumar, with the assurance that a favour would be extended to the complainant’s father in the pending ED matter.
The Head Constable is alleged to have been central to arranging the transaction. Both men were taken into custody following the operation, while the investigation remains ongoing.
Kerala Cyber Fraud Arrest
In a separate case, the CBI has arrested Muhammed Fasal K from his home in Thamarassery, Kozhikode, describing him as a key figure in an alleged cross-border racket involving online fraud and the illegal movement of ATM cards.
The case relates to a cyber fraud of Rs 1.04 crore reported in July 2024. A man from Thrissur was allegedly cheated by callers who posed as FedEx officials and cybercrime police. He was made to transfer Rs 1,04,40,111 after being told that his bank account had to be verified.
During investigation, the CBI found that debit and ATM cards were allegedly bought from students and young people for Rs 3,000 to Rs 7,000 each. These cards were then smuggled to Dubai, where associates allegedly used them to withdraw money obtained through cyber fraud.
The agency also alleged that money sent abroad was used to purchase real estate in different parts of India, while gold was smuggled into Kerala.
Fasal was earlier stopped at Bengaluru airport on May 13, 2026, while allegedly trying to fly to Sharjah. A Look Out Circular had been issued against him.