Punjab Police Cracks Down on Cyber Crime Network in Mohali
In a significant operation targeting cyber crime, the Punjab Police state cyber crime division has successfully dismantled a gang involved in operating mule bank accounts to route and launder fraudulent funds. The crackdown led to the arrest of three individuals from Mohali, marking a major victory in the fight against digital financial crimes.
Arrests and Gang Details
Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav announced that the accused have been identified as Gurjeet Singh, Raman Rai, and Sukhdev Singh, all residents of Jalalabad in the Fazilka district. The trio operated from a rented accommodation in Phase 5, Mohali, under the guise of a business named "Brother Traders". This setup was used to facilitate the opening and supply of current bank accounts for cyber fraud networks.
To avoid detection, the accused created a fake business front, frequently changing hoardings and displaying Ayurvedic products to appear as legitimate traders. This deceptive strategy allowed them to operate undetected for nearly two years, during which they earned approximately Rs 50 lakh in commission by supplying mule accounts. These accounts were opened using forged and morphed documents, highlighting the sophisticated nature of their criminal activities.
Seizures and Financial Impact
Police teams have taken swift action by freezing approximately Rs 20 lakh in bank accounts linked to the gang. The recoveries from the operation are extensive and include:
- 23 ATM cards
- Two laptops
- Seven mobile phones
- Five SIM cards
- Forged KYC documents
- 14 cheque books
- Udyam certificates
- Six stamps
- Cryptocurrency worth 5100 USDT
Special DGP of cyber crime, V Neeraja, provided further insights, noting that the operation was part of an ongoing drive to dismantle "domestic hotspots" of cyber crime. Investigations revealed that the accused had direct links to Chinese nationals, to whom they supplied bank accounts and from whom they received payments in USDT cryptocurrency via the messaging platform Telegram.
Victim Identification and Legal Actions
Through data analysis using the Samanvay portal of the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), authorities have so far linked these mule accounts to at least 24 victims of cyber fraud. Approximately Rs 26.65 lakh has already been placed under lien in various accounts to prevent further misuse.
Police are continuing their investigation to analyze the seized ATM cards and digital devices, aiming to identify more victims and uncover the wider network involved in this operation. An FIR was registered at the State Cyber Crime Police Station in Punjab on March 17, underscoring the commitment to legal proceedings against the perpetrators.
This crackdown highlights the growing threat of cyber crime in India and the proactive measures being taken by law enforcement to protect citizens from financial fraud. The use of mule accounts, which refer to bank accounts used by criminals to receive, transfer, and layer illicit funds—often without the account holder's knowledge—poses a significant challenge, but operations like this demonstrate progress in combating such schemes.
