VARANASI, Jan. 16 -- Two cyber criminals, including the kingpin, were arrested by Azamgarh police from Lekhraj Market and Jankipuram areas in Lucknow on Thursday. Police said the accused were allegedly working for Chinese handlers via Telegram. Police recovered Rs.6.32 lakh in cash, 11 mobile phones, 12 ATM cards, one foreign SIM card, a checkbook, a cash counting machine, and a Scorpio vehicle from their possession, a police officer said. The accused were identified as Abhishek Gupta of Jankipuram, Lucknow, who is the main operator and contact person for Chinese cyber criminals, and Shashwat Awasthi of Indira Nagar, Lucknow. Superintendent of police (Azamgarh rural area) Chirag Jain said the case began on September 18, 2025, when Bhupendranath Yadav, a resident of Gangepur village in Azamgarh's Raunapar area, filed a complaint. Yadav stated that his son, Aryan Yadav, was added to a Telegram group and offered work with a company called "WOOCOMMERCE." Aryan was instructed to "boost" products on the company's website, "WOOAUTOMATTIC.COM," to increase sales and market value. The accused allegedly lured Aryan with promises of high profits, resulting in him depositing a total of Rs.12,64,249. Based on the complaint, a case was registered at the Cyber Crime Police Station, Azamgarh, under Sections 318(4), 319(2), 317 BNS, and 66C, 66D of the IT Act, and an investigation was initiated, Jain added. The SP stated that the investigation revealed the arrested accused were in contact with Chinese cyber criminals via Telegram IDs like 'LEE COOPER,' 'SIMBA (A WATSON),' and 'Nobita.' The defrauded amount was transferred to Indian bank accounts, withdrawn via ATMs and checks, and then converted into the cryptocurrency USDT before being sent to the Chinese handlers. The police officer further disclosed that Abhishek Gupta has so far converted approximately Rs.10-15 crore into USDT and transferred it to the Chinese handlers. The gang misused the accounts of various account holders, who were given a percentage-based commission. The SP described the operation as an organised international cybercrime network. To conceal their identity, the accused used virtual numbers, fake SIM cards and various Telegram groups. Earlier, four notorious interstate cyber criminals belonging to the same gang were previously arrested on October 27, 2025. With these two new arrests, a total of six members have been arrested. A separate case is registered in this regard under Sections 111(4), 317(2), 318(4), 319(2) BNS, and 66C, 66D of the Information Technology Act at the Azamgarh Cyber Crime Police Station....