In a major crackdown on digital financial fraud, the Cyber Excellence Centre of Gujarat's CID (Crime) has arrested six individuals for allegedly supplying over 270 'mule' bank accounts to a syndicate based in Dubai. This network is accused of facilitating the routing of illicit funds from scams that duped victims across India.
The Scale of the Operation
Officials disclosed on Wednesday that the gang and its associates are connected to a staggering 1,549 cybercrime cases reported nationwide in the past year. Investigators have traced approximately Rs 804 crore that was funneled through the bank accounts controlled by this network. The arrested accused have been identified as Kamlesh Sen, Sagar Sen, Sazeb Kherani, Sohil Vadhwania, and Amin Bhayani from Surat, along with Rahul Agrawal from Devgadh Baria. Their arrests follow the earlier detention of 10 other individuals in November as part of the same probe.
How the Mule Account Network Functioned
The syndicate operated with a sophisticated, assembly-line structure. One cell was responsible for convincing individuals to open bank accounts, often by paying them small sums or misleading them about the accounts' intended use. Once opened, the associated bank kits (including cheque books, debit cards) and SIM cards were collected and shipped to handlers abroad.
These resources enabled fraudsters based in Dubai to activate and remotely control the accounts. The mule accounts were then used to receive money stolen through various schemes, including:
- 'Digital arrest' scams
- Fake investment platforms
- Fraudulent loan offers
- Bogus job rackets
A third group within the network monitored transactions and ensured the immediate withdrawal or layering of funds to obscure the money trail and evade detection.
Business Fronts and Financial Incentives
Investigators uncovered that accused Kherani, Vadhwania, and Bhayani used their goods transport business as a cover. They allegedly moved large amounts of cash under the pretext of transporting nearly 200 truckloads of scrap material. Raids in Surat yielded evidence showing the network procured more than 300 SIM cards and opened at least 270 bank accounts for their Dubai-based handler.
The financial rewards for the facilitators were substantial. Kamlesh and Sagar Sen reportedly earned Rs 1,000 per SIM card and Rs 50,000 per completed bank kit. Rahul Agrawal played the role of a "payment processor," earning a commission of 1% on each transaction routed through the network.
This bust highlights the critical role of domestic facilitators in enabling international cybercrime and underscores the continued focus of law enforcement on dismantling the financial infrastructure that supports such large-scale digital fraud.
