Gandhinagar. Gujarat CID Crime has busted an interstate cyber fraud racket linked to financial cheating worth more than ₹53.55 crore and 132 complaints registered across India. Police arrested 10 accused from Anand and Ahmedabad districts, exposing a network that allegedly used rented bank accounts as mule accounts to route and conceal fraud money.
Mule Accounts Used to Move Fraud Funds
Officials said the operation was launched as part of an intensified anti-cybercrime drive. Investigators used technical surveillance and digital tracking to identify individuals allegedly involved in handling and transferring fraud money on commission.
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During the probe, police recovered data from the mobile phones of the accused, revealing details of 197 bank accounts. Of these, at least 60 accounts were directly linked to cyber fraud cases reported across the country, including investment scams, UPI fraud and fake online trading schemes.
Complaints Linked Across Several States
According to police, the syndicate convinced people to rent out their bank accounts in exchange for commissions. These accounts were then used to receive and transfer proceeds of cybercrime, helping offenders hide the original source of funds.
A state-wise analysis showed links to cases across Gujarat, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Kerala, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Haryana, West Bengal, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Delhi, Bihar, Punjab and other states. Police said the financial trail indicates a wider interstate network.
Phones, Cheque Books and Passbooks Seized
The arrested accused have been identified as Krupal Desai, Nizamuddin Diwan, Moin Malek, Sahilmia Malek, Sohil Malek, Jignesh Patel, Vanraj Bharwad, Tushar Valand, Rickren alias Rocky or Pandit Patel, and Akash Patel. Officials said they were involved in operating mule accounts and facilitating illegal fund transfers through digital platforms.
During searches, police seized 11 mobile phones, three cheque books, three passbooks and three debit cards allegedly used for managing fraudulent transactions. Investigators also found that accused Sahilmia Malek had provided a Karnataka Bank account allegedly used by individuals linked to a high-profile political murder case.
Police have urged citizens not to rent out bank accounts, ATM cards or cheque books, warning that such actions can lead to serious legal consequences. Officials said the investigation is continuing and more arrests are likely as the money trail extends across multiple states.
