Bhojpur Cyber Police Uncover Major Mule Account Operation, Arrest Three
In a significant crackdown on financial cybercrime, the Bhojpur cyber police unit made multiple arrests on Friday, apprehending two cybercriminals and a bank official from a finance company. The arrests center on a sophisticated scheme involving the creation of mule bank accounts designed to funnel illegal funds through the financial system.
Bank Official Complicit in Fraudulent Account Creation
The investigation revealed that the arrested bank official, identified as Suman Sourav Chouhan, a senior sales executive, was allegedly complicit in opening these fraudulent accounts in exchange for commission payments. This insider involvement facilitated the criminal operation, allowing accounts to be established under false pretenses.
According to Bhojpur cyber DSP-cum-SHO Sneh Setu, who addressed a press conference on Friday, the operation began when Ara Town police station received a crucial tip-off on February 5. This information led police to apprehend two individuals directly involved in the mule account scheme.
Modus Operandi: Luring Victims with Small Payments
The cyber fraudsters employed a calculated strategy to recruit unwitting participants. They targeted innocent or gullible residents of Bhojpur district, offering payments of Rs2,000 to Rs3,000 simply for opening bank accounts. Once these accounts were established, the criminals took possession of all associated banking materials including passbooks, ATM cards, and SIM cards linked to the accounts.
"The arrested cyber criminals, identified as Rohit Kumar and Mohit Kumar, had details of illegal transactions stored in their cellphones," DSP Sneh Setu explained. "During interrogation, they revealed the involvement of some bank officials in opening mule accounts and unfreezing accounts."
Widespread Impact Across Multiple States
So far, police have identified at least 27 residents of Bhojpur district who fell victim to this scheme. However, the impact extends far beyond local boundaries. The Bhojpur cyber police station has received formal complaints from victims in Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Rajasthan, where fraudulently obtained money was illegally transferred through UPI scanners into these mule accounts.
Multiple illegal transaction details were recovered from Chouhan's seized phone, providing crucial evidence of the scheme's scale and methodology. The recovered data shows a pattern of systematic financial manipulation designed to obscure the origins of illicit funds.
Ongoing Investigation and Future Actions
Police raids are currently underway to apprehend additional gang members and other bank officials allegedly involved in the operation. The investigation continues to expand as authorities piece together the full scope of the criminal network and its financial activities.
This case highlights the growing sophistication of cyber financial crimes in India, where criminals increasingly exploit both technological systems and human vulnerabilities. The arrest of a bank official underscores how insider complicity can significantly enable such fraudulent operations.
The Bhojpur cyber police have emphasized their commitment to pursuing all individuals involved in this scheme, signaling a broader crackdown on financial cybercrime in the region. As digital financial systems expand across India, such cases demonstrate the critical need for enhanced security protocols and public awareness about financial scams.
