Amid the rapidly rising wave of cybercrime across the country, Gujarat has witnessed a major breakthrough that has raised serious concerns over the security of India’s digital financial ecosystem. Under “Operation Mule Hunt 2.0,” authorities have dismantled an organized network that allegedly facilitated cyber fraud worth nearly ₹622 crore using fake and rented bank accounts. So far, 40 accused have been arrested in the operation.
Investigations reveal that the entire racket was built around “money mule accounts” — bank accounts either opened by the accused themselves or created in the names of others in exchange for commissions. These accounts were used as transit points for fraudulent money, which was first transferred into them, then withdrawn in cash, and further routed through hawala channels. Multiple layers of commission-based transactions were involved throughout the process.
According to officials, 1,039 cyber fraud complaints were analyzed during the operation, exposing a deeply entrenched criminal ecosystem. Additionally, suspicious transactions worth more than ₹288 crore were also found linked to the same network.
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Raids and Key Arrests Across Gujarat
Raids conducted in Surat, Bhavnagar, Rajkot, and Unjha revealed startling details. Investigators found that fake companies and forged documents were extensively used to open bank accounts that were later exploited for cyber fraud activities.
From Bhavnagar, accused Mukesh Mer and Faridkhan Pathan were arrested. Devices seized from them included mobile phones and a laptop, which led to the discovery of 125 fake firms, documents of 65 individuals, and 868 fabricated invoices stored in digital records.
In Unjha, it was found that bank accounts linked to the accused were connected to cyber fraud transactions exceeding ₹114 crore. Accused Akshay Patel and Devendra Patel were arrested from this location. Investigations revealed that Akshay operated multiple accounts and routed fraudulent money further into the network, while Devendra opened accounts in exchange for commissions.
From Rajkot, accused Chetan Amlani, Jiten Kakkad, Kapil Kotak, and Mahendra Kokhiya were arrested. Their network was linked to fraud cases amounting to approximately ₹59.79 lakh. Cash and multiple mobile phones were recovered from them during the operation.
Experts Warn About Mule Accounts as a Systemic Threat
Cybercrime experts have warned that money mule networks have now become one of the biggest threats to the digital economy. According to renowned cyber crime expert and former IPS officer Prof. Triveni Singh, “In such networks, ordinary individuals are often lured into providing their bank accounts for quick commissions. However, they later face serious legal consequences. Cybercriminals exploit this weak link and disrupt the entire financial system.”
Authorities have issued a strong public advisory, urging citizens not to share bank account details, ATM cards, or digital banking credentials with anyone under any circumstances. Officials emphasized that even a single act driven by greed for commission can lead to severe legal trouble and long-term consequences.
The case highlights the alarming expansion of digital fraud networks in India, where technology is being misused on a large scale to orchestrate multi-crore scams. It also underscores the urgent need for stricter monitoring of banking channels and greater public awareness to prevent individuals from becoming unwitting participants in cybercrime ecosystems.
