CBI Arrests Axis Bank Manager in Mumbai for Taking Bribes to Help Cybercriminals Open Mule Accounts
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested an Axis Bank branch manager in Mumbai for allegedly taking bribes to help open mule accounts used by cybercriminals to launder money from large-scale online frauds.
A mule account is a bank account used to move or “launder” money that comes from illegal or fraudulent activities — often without the real account holder even realizing it. The person who lets their account be used (knowingly or unknowingly) is called a money mule.
The accused, identified as Nitesh Rai, was arrested on Tuesday after investigators found that he had misused his position to approve account-opening forms for people connected to organised cybercrime groups. According to officials, these accounts were later used to move and hide money obtained through online scams, including the well-known “digital arrest” frauds.
In this scam, fraudsters pretend to be police or government officers and convince victims that they are under investigation. The victims are then “virtually detained” through continuous video calls and forced to transfer large sums of money to clear fake legal charges.
A senior CBI officer confirmed the arrest and said, “The investigation has shown that the arrested bank official worked with cybercriminals, accepted bribes, and helped them open accounts used to move and hide cybercrime money. These accounts were linked to several ‘digital arrest’ fraud cases.”
The CBI has charged Rai under the Prevention of Corruption Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). He was presented before a special CBI court in Mumbai, which sent him into CBI custody for further questioning. Officials said he will be interrogated about his links with cybercriminals and possible involvement of other bank employees.
Investigators are also looking into the role of two cybercriminals who allegedly paid bribes to Rai. The two had been arrested earlier by the CBI in another digital arrest case and are now accused of bribing a public servant under the Prevention of Corruption Act.
A CBI officer warned, “Any banker, whether from a public, private, or cooperative bank, who helps cybercriminals in any way, will face strict legal action. The CBI is determined to clean up the system and hold such people accountable.”
Early investigation suggests that cybercrime networks have been misusing the banking system by creating layers of fake or mule accounts—accounts opened using false documents or with insider help—to transfer money stolen from innocent citizens. The CBI is now working to track down the larger network and destroy the setup that supports such frauds.
