The Gujarat Police uncovered a cyber fraud network involving transactions worth ₹2,289 crore. The investigation focused on mule accounts.
The statewide operation resulted in 565 FIRs, 638 arrests, action against 913 mule accounts, and the detection of more than 4,000 cybercrime cases.
The special drive was named “Operation Mule Hunt 1.0.” It targeted the financial channels used by cyber criminals to move and hide stolen money. It is considered one of the largest actions taken against cyber fraud in the state.
Mule accounts are increasing rapidly in India. People are opening mule accounts and using them for cyber frauds.
This operation was conducted all across the state of Gujarat.
Patan/North Gujarat: Police arrested a syndicate where accounts at the Harij Nagrik Sahakari Bank handled fraudulent transactions of ₹398.43 crore across 13 mule accounts; 14 people were held.
East Kutch: Police discovered a scam worth ₹44 crore linked to 105 mule accounts, detaining interstate operators with suspected international links to Sri Lanka.
Surat & Rajkot: Police conducted multiple drives leading to the arrests of dozens of accused, freezing cross-state transactions worth tens of crores that were being funneled through “angadia” (hawala) networks and converted to cryptocurrency.
Several Bank Employees have also been arrested by Gujarat Police in connection with this scam. The investigation is going on and more details will be released soon.
Bank employees are requested to open accounts only after proper due diligence of customers as mule accounts are becoming a serious threat for the nation.
