Three individuals have been arrested in Rajasthan’s Jhalawar district for allegedly operating mule bank accounts used to facilitate cyber fraud transactions across India, police said. The arrests were made by Jhalawar police in the Bhawanimandi area after investigators traced suspicious banking activity linked to fraudulent financial transfers.
Police Trace Suspicious Transactions to Bank Account
According to investigators, the case came to light after police received intelligence regarding suspicious transactions being routed through a Yes Bank account registered in the name of one of the accused. The account allegedly showed unusual activity connected to cyber fraud operations, prompting authorities to launch an investigation.
Following the probe, police arrested Ajay Verma (28), Arvind Meena (25), and Rajkumar Meghwal (25), all residents of Jhalawar district, for their suspected involvement in the racket.
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Mule Accounts Used to Route Fraud Proceeds
Police allege the accused purchased bank accounts for substantial sums and used them to channel money obtained through cyber fraud schemes. Such accounts, commonly referred to as “mule accounts,” are frequently used by cybercriminals to move stolen funds and obscure the origin of fraudulent transactions.
Authorities said that nearly ₹10 lakh in suspicious transactions linked to cyber fraud have been traced so far through the accounts associated with the accused. The full scale of the network remains under investigation.
Digital Devices, Banking Materials Seized During Operation
During the arrests, police seized multiple items believed to be connected to the alleged fraud operation, including:
- Two ATM cards
- Five bank passbooks
- One chequebook
- Two laptops
- ₹47,500 in cash
Officials believe the recovered materials may provide further evidence regarding the broader cyber fraud network and possible links to additional suspects.
Fresh Arrests Follow Earlier Cyber Fraud Crackdown
The latest arrests come days after another cyber fraud-related crackdown in the same Bhawanimandi region, where police had previously detained suspects in a separate mule account racket. Authorities have indicated that investigations are ongoing to determine whether the two cases are connected.
A criminal case has been registered against the accused under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Information Technology Act. Police said further investigation is underway to identify additional individuals who may be linked to the operation.
