In a significant crackdown on a sprawling international cybercrime operation, the Khammam police on Sunday announced the arrest of 18 individuals who allegedly acted as mule account holders. These arrests are connected to a massive fraud case where an estimated ₹547 crore was illegally diverted abroad.
The Masterminds and Their Modus Operandi
While the foot soldiers have been apprehended, the four prime accused in the case are still evading capture. The police have identified them as P Manoj Kalyan, U Vikas Chowdary, Bhanu Priya, and M Satish. According to investigators, the accused allegedly lured young people by promising them jobs, only to convince them to open bank accounts. The banking credentials of these accounts were then misused to commit extensive cyber fraud.
"These mule accounts were used to launder cyber fraud victims' money. The accused also paid the mule account holders," stated Khammam Police Commissioner Sunil Dutt. The racket had been operational since 2022, systematically siphoning off funds from victims across the country.
International Links and Cryptocurrency Trail
The investigation has revealed deep international connections. The wanted accused are suspected of providing these mule accounts to cyber fraudsters operating from Cambodia and other foreign countries. After the illicit money was deposited into the network of mule accounts, Kalyan and his associates would transfer it to their personal bank accounts.
The final step involved using cryptocurrency transactions to divert the massive sums to their handlers overseas, effectively laundering the money and obscuring its trail. Police analysis of financial records shows staggering amounts credited to the accused's accounts:
- ₹114 crore was credited to P Manoj Kalyan's personal current account.
- His wife, Bhanu Priya, received ₹45 crore in her accounts.
- His brother-in-law, M Satish, saw ₹135 crore flow into his account.
- Another ₹81 crore was credited to an account belonging to one Nagalakshmi before being moved out.
Ongoing Investigation and Past Record
In response to the uncovered fraud, the police have already frozen the bank accounts of the accused. Authorities have also stated they will be writing to the Income Tax department to examine whether the unusual transactions fall under their scrutiny for potential tax evasion.
This is not the first time Kalyan's name has surfaced in a criminal probe. His role had previously come to light in a job fraud case investigated by the Cyberabad cyber crime police, though he managed to avoid arrest at that time. The current case underscores the sophisticated and persistent nature of such cybercrime networks that exploit vulnerable youth for financial gain.
