Kochi cyber police have arrested two suspects, Atul Kumar Singh and Manish Yadav, from Varanasi for operating a scam involving a fake Parivahan app that deceived victims through fraudulent APK files sent via WhatsApp.

The investigation was triggered after a victim from Ernakulam reported losing Rs 85,000 through a fake Parivahan link, leading police to uncover the scam and arrest the suspects.

Authorities registered an FIR and conducted a detailed digital investigation, which led to the arrests based on digital evidence collected from the suspects' devices.

During the raid, police found data related to over 2,700 vehicles across states like Kerala, Gujarat, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal, revealing the scam's extensive scale.

The legitimate Parivahan app, created by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, offers services such as checking traffic challans and vehicle registration details, but the scammers exploited its name for fraudulent activities.

Nearly 500 complaints about the same challan scam have been reported across the state, indicating widespread public concern.

In Kerala alone, approximately 570 cases related to this scam have been registered, and the gang has been active for at least six months.

Investigators are examining whether the suspects are connected to other Parivahan-related fraud cases nationwide, with ongoing investigations by Kerala Police.

The scammers harvested personal vehicle data through Telegram bots to target victims across multiple states.

The fraud has resulted in an estimated loss of Rs 85,000 from victims across several states, with victims' bank details compromised through malicious APK files.

The main developer of the fraudulent app is believed to be a 16-year-old relative of Manish Yadav, who is under investigation but not yet arrested.

The suspects were uncooperative during arrest and are suspected to be involved in other criminal activities, including scams related to KYC updates and fake chat applications.