Police in Uttar Pradesh’s Gorakhpur have dismantled an alleged mule bank account racket that was being used to channel proceeds of cyber fraud through bank accounts opened in the names of unsuspecting individuals. In a joint operation, the Kotwali Police and the Cyber Cell arrested four suspects. During the raids, officers recovered seven mobile phones, 32 ATM cards, 20 bank passbooks, 18 cheque books and eight SIM cards. Investigators allege that the group lured people with advertisements and other inducements, persuaded them to open bank accounts, and then used those accounts to receive and transfer money linked to cyber fraud and illegal online gaming activities.
The arrested suspects have been identified as Aman Chauhan, Shani Chaudhary, Ayush Pratap and Amit Kumar. According to police, the group’s primary method involved identifying financially vulnerable individuals through advertisements, employment offers and other incentives. Once the accounts were opened, the suspects allegedly took possession of the linked mobile numbers, ATM cards, passbooks and other banking credentials. These accounts were then allegedly used as mule accounts to route money generated through cyber-enabled financial crimes.
The investigation began after a complaint was filed by a physically disabled account holder. The complainant alleged that Aman Chauhan persuaded him to open a bank account under the pretext of an advertisement and later handed over the mobile number linked to the account to Ayush Pratap. Aman subsequently took the complainant to the bank, claiming that ₹1.52 lakh was stuck in the account and needed to be withdrawn. However, the complainant discovered at the bank that approximately ₹5.50 lakh had been credited to the account and that most of the money had already been transferred through UPI transactions.
Investigators found that the UPI ID linked to the account was allegedly being operated by Ayush Pratap. During questioning, the accused reportedly admitted that they persuaded individuals to open bank accounts and later used those accounts to facilitate the movement of cyber fraud proceeds. Police are now conducting forensic examinations of the seized bank documents, mobile phones, SIM cards and digital devices to determine whether the network had links to cybercrime syndicates operating in other states.
According to investigators, the recovered ATM cards, passbooks and electronic devices are expected to provide crucial digital evidence. Authorities are analysing bank transaction records, UPI data, call detail records, IP addresses and other electronic evidence to identify additional beneficiaries and determine the total amount of money routed through the mule accounts. Investigators are also examining how many individuals may have unknowingly allowed their bank accounts to be used by the network.
In a separate operation, Gorakhpur Police also arrested Vijendra Singh, a suspect carrying a ₹10,000 reward, who is accused of cheating people by promising overseas employment opportunities. Police said he had been absconding for a considerable period. Officers recovered an ATM swipe machine, a laptop, a pen drive, mobile phones, ATM cards, 25 original bank passbooks and several important documents from his possession. Investigators allege that he collected ₹1.30 lakh from a job seeker after promising to arrange employment abroad but neither secured the job nor returned the money.
Police said Vijendra Singh is already facing multiple cheating cases. Authorities are now examining the passports, bank records, digital devices and other documents seized from him to identify additional victims and uncover the full extent of the alleged fraud network. According to renowned cybercrime expert and former IPS officer Prof. Triveni Singh, mule bank accounts have become one of the primary tools used by organised cybercriminals to conceal the movement of illicit funds. He advised the public never to rent out or share their bank accounts, ATM cards, mobile numbers or internet banking credentials, warning that doing so could expose account holders to criminal investigation and legal liability.
