The Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) has arrested a 24-year-old man from Kanpur for allegedly creating fake email IDs and selling them to people operating internationally. The accused, identified as Ankit Shankhwar, is suspected of producing millions of fake email accounts over several years. According to the report, he allegedly used Wi-Fi connections and proxy networks to create these accounts and sell them to buyers. The arrest is part of an investigation into bomb threats sent to several locations across India.
Fake Email ID Linked to Multiple Threats
Investigators found that an email ID allegedly sold by Shankhwar was used to send bomb threats to schools in Noida, Delhi and Gurugram. The same account was also reportedly used to threaten a show featuring Punjabi singer Diljit Dosanjh and the Mumbai Mayor’s Office. These threats prompted security concerns at the targeted locations. The ATS is investigating the alleged link between the fake email account and the threatening messages to establish who was responsible for sending them.
International Contacts Under Investigation
According to the report, Shankhwar was in contact through Facebook and WhatsApp with individuals described as anti-India elements in countries including Pakistan, Bangladesh, Turkey and Egypt. Investigators allege that he sold the email IDs to a Bangladeshi national identified as Alamin Islam in exchange for 6,000 units of cryptocurrency. The agency is examining these alleged contacts and financial transactions to understand how the accounts were sold and whether other individuals were involved in the operation.
Mobile Phone and Laptop Seized
During the operation, the ATS recovered a mobile phone and a laptop from the accused. Investigators reportedly found evidence of around five lakh fake email IDs, along with Excel spreadsheets and records linked to cryptocurrency wallets. These digital materials could help investigators trace the creation and sale of the accounts, identify buyers and examine possible links to the bomb threats. The devices and records are now important parts of the ongoing investigation.
Case Registered in Lucknow
The ATS has registered a case at its Lucknow police station in connection with the matter. Following the arrest, the agency is seeking further information about the accused’s alleged activities and the people who may have helped him. The recovery of a large number of email IDs has widened the scope of the investigation, as officials examine whether the accounts were used for other unlawful activities apart from the threats already identified.
Search for Other Suspects Continues
The ATS has taken steps to question the accused in police custody and is searching for his alleged associates. Investigators are expected to examine the digital evidence, communication records and cryptocurrency transactions to establish the full network behind the operation. The case highlights concerns over the alleged misuse of fake online identities to send threats and conceal the identities of those responsible. Further details about other suspects or additional arrests have not been provided in the report.
