Surat, Gujarat: The Cyber Centre of Excellence of Gujarat Police’s CID Crime has claimed to have dismantled one of the country’s largest alleged cyber-enabled financial crime networks under Operation Mule Hunt 2.0. According to police, the investigation has so far uncovered an alleged cyber fraud network linked to more than ₹802 crore and connected with 1,117 cybercrime complaints across 22 states and Union Territories.
Four More Arrested In Latest Phase
Authorities said 55 accused persons have been arrested over the past month. In the latest phase of the operation, four more accused were arrested from Ahmedabad and Surat.
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Police alleged that one of the accused created a fake company named Chamunda Communication, whose bank accounts were allegedly used to receive, transfer and layer funds generated through cyber fraud.
Investigators alleged that Vishal Sureshbhai Dodiya, a resident of Vastral in Ahmedabad, registered the bogus firm and opened three bank accounts in its name at different banks. According to police, these accounts were later handed over to organised cybercrime syndicates for routing money obtained through online fraud.
Fake Company Accounts Linked To 253 Complaints
Police said verification through the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal linked these accounts to 253 cybercrime complaints registered across 22 states and Union Territories.
The alleged fraud linked to these accounts is estimated at more than ₹161 crore. Investigators are now examining the movement of funds through the accounts and identifying the cybercrime syndicates that allegedly used them.
As part of the same operation, Gujarat Police also arrested Mohammad Khaliq Ghulam Husain and Shoaib Gulabnabi Rana from Surat in connection with the Bhavnagar District Cooperative Bank hacking case.
Investigators alleged that cybercriminals illegally accessed the bank’s servers, database and core banking system, manipulated electronic records, created fake account balances and diverted nearly ₹7.34 crore into multiple bank accounts.
Mule Account Network Under Probe
According to police, the two accused allegedly operated accounts used to receive and transfer suspected proceeds of the bank fraud.
In another related case, Afzal Pir Mohammad Mansuri of Ahmedabad was also arrested. Police alleged that he managed mule bank accounts and helped in the withdrawal and movement of money obtained through cyber fraud. Authorities said ten other accused had already been arrested in connection with the same investigation.
According to Gujarat Police, mule bank accounts are accounts that are knowingly or unknowingly made available to cybercriminals for receiving, transferring or laundering money obtained through online fraud. Fraudsters often lure account holders with promises of commissions or easy money and obtain access to bank accounts, ATM cards, cheque books, SIM cards or internet banking credentials.
Police said Operation Mule Hunt 2.0 uses intelligence from the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal, the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre, banking records and digital evidence to identify and dismantle financial networks that support cybercrime.
Cases have been registered under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Section 66D of the Information Technology Act. Authorities have urged citizens not to share bank account details, ATM cards, cheque books or internet banking credentials with anyone. The investigation remains ongoing.
