Ahmedabad | The Cyber Centre of Excellence of Gujarat CID Crime has dismantled a nationwide cyber fraud network under Operation Mule Hunt 2.0, arresting 19 accused allegedly involved in a highly organised cybercrime syndicate. Investigators said the network routed more than ₹250 crore in suspicious financial transactions through fake and rented bank accounts. The accused have been linked to 146 cybercrime cases registered across 21 states, while the investigation has also uncovered suspected operational links extending from Gujarat to Dubai.
According to investigators, the operation led to the detection of five major cyber fraud cases registered in Vadodara, Bhavnagar, Surat, Patan and Gandhinagar. The accused allegedly supplied bank accounts, internet banking facilities and digital infrastructure to cybercriminals, enabling them to transfer fraud proceeds through multiple accounts and making it difficult for law enforcement agencies to trace the money trail.
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Victims were reportedly targeted through fake investment schemes, online trading scams, deposit frauds, UPI fraud and other online deception methods. In several cases, victims were persuaded to install malicious APK files, allowing fraudsters to gain remote access to their mobile devices and banking credentials.
The investigation further revealed that key operations were allegedly managed from offices in Mota Varachha and Jahangirpura in Surat, while parts of the syndicate are suspected to have been controlled by handlers operating from Dubai. Following the arrest of six accused from Mehsana and Gandhinagar, investigators traced transactions worth more than ₹161 crore through the bank account of one accused. The alleged principal handler associated with that account has also been arrested.
In one of the Vadodara-linked cases, four accused were found to be connected to 101 cybercrime complaints registered across the country, involving fraud exceeding ₹46 crore. Investigators also discovered that one of the accused is wanted in a murder case, highlighting the nexus between organised cybercrime and other serious criminal activities.
In another significant breakthrough, investigators arrested an MBA student from a private university in Vadodara. He is accused of opening more than ten bank accounts in the names of fellow students and acquaintances before handing them over to cyber fraud syndicates. Authorities said these accounts were used to route more than ₹7.40 crore in fraudulent transactions. The accused has been linked to 28 cybercrime complaints registered across the country.
The probe found that the accused lured account holders with commissions in exchange for access to their bank accounts. They allegedly collected Aadhaar cards, PAN cards, ATM card images, cheque books and internet banking credentials from account holders. Victims were also persuaded to install malicious APK applications, allowing the syndicate to operate the accounts remotely without requiring repeated OTP verification. These accounts were subsequently used to move funds generated through large-scale cyber fraud.
Renowned cybercrime expert and former IPS officer Prof. Triveni Singh said cybercriminals are increasingly relying on mule account networks instead of directly receiving stolen funds, making financial trails more difficult to detect. He cautioned that allowing someone else to use one’s bank account can itself amount to a serious offence. He advised citizens never to share their bank account details, ATM cards, internet banking credentials or OTPs with any individual under any circumstances.
Investigators are now working to identify additional beneficiaries, trace possible international money laundering links and examine the suspected overseas connections, including those in Dubai. Officials believe the syndicate operated across multiple states as part of a larger organised cybercrime network, and further arrests are expected as the investigation progresses.
About the author — Suvedita Nath is a science student with a growing interest in cybercrime and digital safety. She writes on online activity, cyber threats, and technology-driven risks. Her work focuses on clarity, accuracy, and public awareness.
