Varanasi: The Chandauli police have busted an alleged multi-crore interstate cattle smuggling racket and arrested a wanted accused who was allegedly using a mobile and hardware shop in Bihar’s Rohtas district as a front for the illegal trade. The investigation has uncovered financial transactions worth nearly Rs 187 crore among 31 suspected members of the syndicate, police said.Circle officer (Sadar) Devendra Kumar said Akhilesh Kumar (27), a resident of Rohtas, Bihar, had been booked in Oct 2025 in a cattle smuggling case. As he remained absconding, Saiyyedraja police had announced a reward of Rs 25,000 for information leading to his arrest. He was finally arrested on Monday.During the investigation, police scrutinised Akhilesh’s financial transactions and found that he was allegedly part of an organised interstate cattle smuggling network comprising at least 31 members.Police said the probe revealed mutual financial transactions worth around Rs 187 crore among the gang members. Analysis of Akhilesh’s bank accounts showed transactions worth Rs 4.77 crore, for which he allegedly failed to provide any valid documents or legitimate source of income.Investigators also found that Akhilesh had transferred around Rs 2.5 crore to Mohammad Afzal, Sheikh Sultan, Sonu Quraishi, Pawan Kumar, Afzal and others allegedly involved in the cattle smuggling network. During interrogation, the accused allegedly admitted to making these transactions.Police further found that, contrary to the accused’s claims, no Common Service Centre (CSC) was being operated in his name. The investigation is continuing to identify and trace the remaining members of the syndicate.
