Odisha Court Initiates First BNSS Property Attachment in Major Cyber Fraud Case
A court in Ganjam district has taken a landmark step by issuing a 14-day notice for the attachment of properties belonging to a 27-year-old man accused of facilitating cybercrime through mule accounts. This represents the first instance of property attachment under the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) in the state of Odisha, according to police officials.
Details of the Court Order and Accused
The judicial magistrate first class (JMFC) in Khallikote issued the notice on February 25 to Sushant Sahu, a resident of the Beguniapada police station area. The notice targets his house and land in Berhampur, which have an estimated benchmark value of approximately Rs 35 lakh. This action was taken under Section 107(5) of the BNSS, a provision designed to combat proceeds of crime.
Sahu was originally arrested on December 2 of last year on allegations of operating mule accounts for cyber fraudsters. Police describe him as a significant broker who allegedly incentivized villagers to sell their bank accounts and identification documents in exchange for commissions. Furthermore, he is accused of establishing a company specifically to manage these illicit accounts.
Investigation Reveals Massive Financial Transactions
During the investigation led by Purushottampur subdivisional police officer Sujit Nayak, authorities uncovered that over Rs 1 crore had been transacted through one of Sahu's bank accounts in a mere three-day period. The accused failed to provide a satisfactory explanation for these bulk transactions when questioned.
Subsequent inquiries revealed that Sahu had purchased properties in Berhampur using funds allegedly obtained from these fraudulent activities. The investigation involved thorough due diligence and collaboration with officials from the GST and revenue departments, culminating in the police moving the court for property attachment.
Currently, two separate cases are pending against Sahu at the Khallikote and Berhampur cyber police stations, highlighting the seriousness of the charges.
Broader Police Crackdown on Cyber Fraud
Ganjam Superintendent of Police Suvendu Kumar Patra provided context on the wider enforcement efforts. In a special drive dubbed "Operation Cyber Kavach" conducted over the past week, police have registered 36 cases related to mule account operations and arrested 23 individuals. The Hinjili police station area recorded the highest number of arrests, with eight persons taken into custody.
Additionally, notices have been served to 66 people in connection with these activities. The SP reported that fraudulent transactions worth around Rs 8 crore and 678 mule accounts have been identified across the district, underscoring the scale of the cyber fraud problem.
This case sets a significant precedent in Odisha's legal approach to cybercrime, demonstrating the use of the BNSS to target and seize assets derived from illegal activities, thereby aiming to disrupt the financial networks that enable such frauds.
