Berhampur Cyber Police Arrests 21-Year-Old in Rs 2 Crore Mule Account Fraud
In a significant breakthrough under Operation Cyber Kavach, the Berhampur cyber police on Wednesday apprehended a 21-year-old man for his alleged involvement in managing 60 to 70 mule accounts connected to a massive Rs 2 crore fraud case. The arrest highlights the sophisticated methods employed by cybercriminals to exploit financial systems.
Details of the Arrest and Accused
The accused has been identified as Jyoti Ranjan, also known as Rohan Pradhan, a resident of Kantiagada near Rambha in Ganjam district. Police officials confirmed that he was an integral part of a well-organized syndicate specializing in the creation and operation of mule accounts. These accounts served as critical conduits for laundering stolen funds across an extensive criminal network.
During the arrest, authorities seized one mobile phone containing incriminating evidence of illegal financial transactions. This device is expected to provide crucial insights into the modus operandi of the syndicate and its broader connections.
Modus Operandi of the Syndicate
According to Saravana Vivek M, the Superintendent of Police (Berhampur), the arrested individual, along with two accomplices, allegedly facilitated the opening of 50 to 70 bank accounts. The syndicate targeted vulnerable individuals through dishonest inducements, offering false promises of monthly financial benefits.
Based on these misrepresentations, victims were persuaded to open bank accounts and subsequently hand over their passbooks, ATM cards, and cheque books to the accused. These accounts were then transferred to cyber kingpins, who utilized them to layer and integrate "black money" into the formal financial system. This process effectively masked the trail of stolen funds, making detection and tracking exceedingly difficult for law enforcement agencies.
Scale and Geographic Spread of the Fraud
Preliminary investigations have revealed fraudulent transactions exceeding Rs 2 crore conducted through just 10 verified accounts. The data indicates a wide national footprint, with links to crimes reported in multiple states across India.
The affected regions include:
- Maharashtra: Pune, Pimpri, Osmanabad
- Gujarat: Surat, Ahmedabad
- Uttar Pradesh: Haridwar, Gautam Budh Nagar
- Haryana: Kaithal
- Punjab
- Himachal Pradesh
- West Bengal: Kolkata, Bidhannagar, Maniktola
- Telangana
- Tamil Nadu: Chennai, Theni
- Karnataka
- Kerala
- Andhra Pradesh
This extensive geographic spread underscores the syndicate's operational reach and the complexity of the investigation.
Ongoing Investigation and Public Advisory
The investigation is currently underway into an additional 50 to 60 bank accounts suspected to be involved in the scheme. In light of this case, SP Saravana Vivek M issued a stern advisory to the public.
He emphasized that holding or operating mule accounts—even out of ignorance—constitutes a serious criminal offence. "Never open a bank account on behalf of another person," he warned. "Criminals often offer small payments to use the account to 'transfer funds'. This is a trap designed to involve you in money laundering activities."
The arrest marks a critical step in dismantling the syndicate and serves as a reminder of the importance of vigilance in financial transactions. Authorities continue to probe deeper into the network to identify and apprehend all individuals involved.
