Police in Bihar and Andhra Pradesh have arrested two men in Raxaul, East Champaran district, for allegedly helping Pakistani intelligence operatives activate Indian WhatsApp accounts by sharing one-time passwords (OTPs) in exchange for money. The arrests followed a joint operation near the India-Nepal border as investigators examined suspected links to a cross-border cyber espionage network.
The accused, identified as Aditya Pandey, 23, and Raja Kumar, 24, allegedly obtained Indian mobile phone numbers and forwarded the authentication codes to Pakistani handlers. According to police, the accounts were subsequently used for activities described by investigators as hostile to India’s National Security.
Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) Manish Anand, who led the raiding team, said the two men were arrested for allegedly assisting Pakistani intelligence operatives. Police seized two mobile phones during the operation, and preliminary scrutiny reportedly identified communications and financial records relevant to the investigation.
Who Are the Two Men Arrested in Raxaul?
The arrested individuals have been identified as Aditya Pandey, 23, and Raja Kumar, 24. According to the information provided by police, Pandey is a resident of Naga Road, Ward No. 11, in Raxaul, East Champaran district.
Kumar is a native of Harlakhi in Madhubani district and was residing in Noniyadih, within the jurisdiction of Raxaul police station, at the time of the operation.
Investigators allege that the two men helped Pakistani operatives activate Indian WhatsApp accounts by forwarding OTPs linked to Indian mobile numbers. They are suspected of receiving financial benefits in return for providing the authentication codes.
The arrests were made during a coordinated operation involving the Bihar Police and a team from Andhra Pradesh Police that had travelled to Raxaul as part of an ongoing investigation.
How the Alleged WhatsApp Activation Network Operated
According to the investigation details, the suspected network relied on Indian mobile phone numbers and the OTP-based verification process used to activate WhatsApp accounts. The accused allegedly arranged access to the numbers and forwarded the authentication codes to Pakistani operatives.
One-time passwords are verification codes used to confirm access to an account or authenticate a particular action. In the alleged operation, investigators suspect that the codes were passed to handlers across the border, enabling them to configure WhatsApp accounts using Indian phone numbers.
Police allege that the resulting accounts were presented as belonging to genuine Indian users. Investigators suspect the accounts were then used to support anti-India operations and espionage-related activities.
The suspected arrangement allegedly involved financial payments to the individuals supplying the OTPs. Police said the seized devices contained records that could help establish communications with the alleged handlers and transfers of money to the accused.
The precise number of WhatsApp accounts allegedly activated through the network, the total amount of money involved and the full extent of the operation have not been specified in the information available about the arrests.
Andhra Pradesh Police Traced Digital Footprints to Raxaul
The investigation reportedly originated from a case registered in Andhra Pradesh under Case No. 0-01/2026. Investigators from Vijayawada travelled to Raxaul on October 25 after tracing digital footprints allegedly linked to suspects operating in the local market.
According to the reported sequence of events, the findings led investigators to examine possible connections between individuals in Raxaul and a suspected network involving Pakistani intelligence operatives.
Raxaul’s location along the India-Nepal border made the town the focus of the joint investigation. The police operation involved personnel from the Bihar Police and the visiting Andhra Pradesh Police contingent, who coordinated searches at multiple locations within the Raxaul police station’s jurisdiction.
The operation was led by SDPO Manish Anand and Raxaul Station House Officer (SHO) Ramesh Kumar Mahto, alongside the visiting team from Vijayawada.
Police have not disclosed all the details of the digital investigation or explained how each individual allegedly became involved. Further questioning and forensic examination are expected to help investigators establish the suspected network’s structure and identify any additional connections.
Two Mobile Phones Seized During Police Raids
During the coordinated operation, police seized two mobile phones from the accused. Investigators conducted a preliminary forensic examination of the devices to look for evidence related to the alleged activities.
According to the information provided about the case, the initial scrutiny reportedly identified digital communication logs involving Pakistani operatives and records of money transfers allegedly received in exchange for sharing OTPs.
Such records could help investigators examine communications, trace financial transactions and determine whether other individuals were involved in obtaining or activating the accounts. However, the findings described so far are preliminary, and the full forensic results have not been detailed.
The seized phones may also provide investigators with information about the number of accounts involved, the timing of communications and possible links to people operating outside Raxaul. The available information does not establish the complete scope of the alleged network or identify any additional suspects.
Accused Taken to Vijayawada on Transit Remand
Following their arrests, both men were taken to Vijayawada by the Andhra Pradesh Police team on transit remand. Their transfer is intended to facilitate further investigation into the case registered in Andhra Pradesh.
Investigators are seeking to uncover possible domestic and overseas connections associated with the suspected operation. The inquiry may involve examining the seized devices, verifying financial transfers and tracing communications linked to the alleged Pakistani handlers.
The investigation will also need to establish the alleged roles of the two accused and determine whether the suspected activities extended beyond the individuals arrested in Raxaul.
At this stage, the allegations against Pandey and Kumar remain subject to the legal process. The information provided does not include details of formal charges filed against them, their responses to the allegations or the outcome of any subsequent court proceedings.
Why OTP Sharing Can Create Cybersecurity Risks
The case highlights the security risks associated with sharing authentication codes. OTPs are intended to help verify that a person attempting to activate or access an account has control of the relevant phone number or another authorised verification method.
If a code is forwarded to someone else, it can potentially allow that person to complete the verification process. When the account is registered using a number belonging to another person or obtained through an unauthorised arrangement, the actual user of the account may not be the individual represented by the phone number.
In messaging services, accounts created or controlled in this way can potentially be used to communicate under misleading identities. That possibility is particularly relevant to investigations involving suspected impersonation, fraud or coordinated online activity.
The allegations in the Raxaul case concern the suspected deliberate transfer of OTPs to Pakistani operatives in exchange for payments. Police say the accounts were allegedly intended for activities hostile to India’s interests. The full evidence supporting those allegations will need to be assessed through the investigation and legal proceedings.
Investigation Continues Into Possible Wider Links
The arrests mark an investigative development in a case that reportedly began with digital leads in Andhra Pradesh and led police to suspects in Bihar. The joint operation brought together officers from two states to search locations in Raxaul and seize devices for examination.
Investigators are now seeking to determine whether the two accused acted independently or as part of a broader arrangement involving other people. The examination of communications and financial records could help clarify how the alleged OTP-sharing process worked and whether additional accounts or transactions were involved.
The reported transfer of the accused to Vijayawada on transit remand places the next stage of the investigation under the Andhra Pradesh Police team handling the case. Further details about the alleged network, the evidence recovered and any additional arrests have not been provided.
For now, the central allegation is that two men in Raxaul supplied Indian WhatsApp verification codes to Pakistani intelligence operatives for financial gain. Police say the digital evidence recovered during the operation is being examined to establish the suspected cross-border links and the extent of the alleged activities.
Key Points
- Two men, Aditya Pandey, 23, and Raja Kumar, 24, were arrested in Raxaul by a joint Bihar and Andhra Pradesh Police team.
- Police allege that the accused forwarded OTPs linked to Indian mobile numbers to Pakistani intelligence operatives to help activate WhatsApp accounts.
- Investigators seized two mobile phones and reportedly found communication logs and financial records during preliminary scrutiny.
- The accused were taken to Vijayawada on transit remand as police investigate possible domestic and overseas links to the suspected network.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why were two men arrested in Raxaul?
They were arrested for allegedly helping Pakistani intelligence operatives activate Indian WhatsApp accounts by forwarding one-time passwords in exchange for financial benefits.
Who are the accused in the Raxaul WhatsApp case?
The accused have been identified as Aditya Pandey, 23, a resident of Raxaul, and Raja Kumar, 24, a native of Madhubani district who was residing in Raxaul.
How did the alleged network activate Indian WhatsApp accounts?
According to police, the accused allegedly obtained Indian mobile phone numbers and forwarded the associated OTPs to Pakistani operatives, allowing the handlers to complete the account activation process.
What evidence did police reportedly recover?
Police seized two mobile phones. Preliminary scrutiny reportedly identified digital communication logs and records of money transfers allegedly linked to the operation.
Which police teams carried out the arrests?
The operation was conducted jointly by the Bihar Police and an Andhra Pradesh Police team from Vijayawada. SDPO Manish Anand and Raxaul SHO Ramesh Kumar Mahto were among the officers leading the operation.
Where were the accused taken after their arrest?
Both men were taken to Vijayawada on transit remand by the Andhra Pradesh Police contingent for further investigation into the case.
Has the full extent of the alleged network been established?
No complete account of the network’s scope has been provided. Investigators are examining the seized devices and pursuing possible domestic and overseas links.
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