Mumbai Police have uncovered an interstate mule bank account network allegedly used in cyber fraud linked to online gaming, cricket betting and casinos. Six people have been arrested, and police have identified 110 bank accounts connected to the network.
The Dongri police cyber team received confidential and credible information about the network and subsequently began analysing banking transactions, technical data and digital evidence. Investigators monitored suspicious bank accounts and the activities of people linked to them.
As the investigation progressed, police carried out operations at Sandhurst Road railway station, Dr Maheshwari Road and in the Dongri area. Six people linked to the network were arrested during the operation.
The arrested accused include Nikhil Kamal Kumar Jaiswani, Rahul Shyamlal Parwani and Jai Biharilal Tirpathi. According to police, all three are residents of Madhya Pradesh. Five other accused are absconding, while three women have been issued notices to join the investigation.
Police seized a large quantity of banking and digital equipment from the accused. The seized items include 44 bank passbooks, 70 debit cards, 36 SIM cards, 23 mobile phones, three laptops, one tablet, 12 bank kits and one car.
According to police, the estimated value of the seized items is around Rs 50 lakh. The large number of banking documents and digital devices is being examined to establish how the network operated and identify its possible contacts.
During the investigation, police traced a total of 110 bank accounts. Financial and other information related to 17 of these accounts was obtained from the respective banks. Analysis of the technical details and transactions associated with these accounts revealed links with cybercrimes registered in different parts of the country.
According to police, the 17 mule bank accounts under investigation recorded financial activity worth Rs 25.45 crore during the previous one-and-a-half to two months. Police are now investigating which beneficiary accounts received money from these accounts and identifying the people or organisations operating those accounts.
The investigation has established links between the bank accounts and 38 cybercrimes and complaints registered across the country. Police suspect that other accounts still under investigation may also have been used in other cybercrimes.
A broader analysis of the seized bank accounts has also revealed information about suspected transactions and cyber fraud involving more than Rs 100 crore. However, the actual connection between all these transactions and cybercrimes will become clear only after the investigation is completed.
The investigation found that the network was not limited to the Dongri area. According to police, its links extended to Govandi, Mankhurd and Dongri in Mumbai, as well as Belapur, Panvel and Ulwe in Navi Mumbai. The investigation has also found a connection with Osmanabad.
Complaints related to cybercrimes involving these bank accounts have been reported not only in Maharashtra but also in Karnataka, Telangana, Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Jammu and Kashmir and West Bengal, among other states.
This has led investigating agencies to suspect that the network was being used to transfer money obtained through cyber fraud from one location to another across different states.
Following the arrest of six accused, the next phase of the Dongri police investigation is focused on identifying the main cybercriminals operating behind the network.
Police are investigating how much money the arrested accused were paid for providing bank accounts and to whom information about these accounts was supplied.
Investigating agencies are analysing banking records and data recovered from mobile phones, SIM cards, laptops and other digital devices. The analysis is aimed at identifying possible beneficiary accounts, contacts and other people linked to cybercrime.
Police are also searching for the absconding accused. Further information about other people and additional bank accounts linked to the network is expected to emerge as the investigation progresses.
Dongri police have appealed to citizens not to give their bank accounts, passbooks, debit cards, chequebooks, SIM cards or mobile phones to anyone at another person's request. Renting out a bank account or allowing another person to use it can result in serious legal and financial problems.
Police have also advised people not to share OTPs, PINs, internet banking passwords or other banking information with anyone. If any unknown or suspicious transaction appears in an account, the account holder should immediately contact the bank and inform the concerned authorities.
Action in the case has been taken under the relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Information Technology Act. Mumbai Police are now working to establish the financial links of the network and identify the cybercriminals operating behind it.
