Gujarat Police have dismantled a massive cybercrime-linked mule account network involving transactions worth more than ₹631.86 crore and arrested 13 accused from Ahmedabad, Surat, Vadodara, Bharuch, and Rajkot under a coordinated crackdown named “Operation Mule Hunt 2.0.” Investigators said the network was connected to hundreds of cyber fraud complaints registered across India.
According to officials, the accused allegedly operated mule bank accounts, shell firms, and layered financial channels to move funds linked to cyber frauds, investment scams, internet banking fraud, and UPI-related crimes. Police said the investigation exposed one of the largest cyber mule ecosystems uncovered in Gujarat in recent years.
Operation Mule Hunt 2.0 Targeted Multi-City Fraud Network
The arrests were carried out during simultaneous operations across Ahmedabad, Surat, Vadodara, Bharuch, and Rajkot by Gujarat’s Cyber Centre of Excellence (CCE). Superintendent of Police Rajdeepsinh Zala said the accused were allegedly part of organised cybercrime groups handling fraudulent transactions through multiple bank accounts.
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Investigators found that the accused allegedly opened and managed mule accounts using fake or manipulated business entities to route cyber fraud proceeds across different states. Authorities believe the network operated through multiple transaction layers to hide the origin and destination of illicit funds.
Police officials said the operation was launched after intelligence analysis linked several suspicious banking patterns and shell firms to nationwide cybercrime complaints.
982 Cyber Fraud Complaints Linked to Accused Accounts
According to Gujarat Police, verification of 45 bank accounts connected to the accused through the National Cybercrime Reporting Portal (NCCRP) revealed links to 982 cyber fraud complaints registered across India. More than 200 FIRs were reportedly lodged in different states.
Investigators stated that Maharashtra accounted for 137 complaints, Karnataka for 126 complaints, and Gujarat for 77 complaints connected to the suspected network. Officials alleged the accounts were repeatedly used to receive and transfer proceeds from online fraud operations.
The total value of transactions linked to the network was estimated at approximately ₹631.86 crore, making it one of the largest cyber mule investigations handled by Gujarat Police.
Mule Accounts and Shell Firms Allegedly Used for Fraud
Police alleged that several accused opened current accounts in the names of firms and business entities specifically to facilitate cyber fraud transactions. According to investigators, the funds would first enter mule accounts before being rapidly layered and transferred across different channels to avoid detection.
Officials said the cyber frauds linked to the accused included online investment scams, internet banking frauds, UPI frauds, and deposit-related cybercrime cases. Some accused allegedly coordinated withdrawals and transfers while others arranged fake business documentation to open banking facilities.
Investigators are now examining digital devices, transaction records, and interstate links to identify additional handlers, beneficiaries, and financial operators associated with the network.
Authorities Intensify Crackdown on Mule Account Ecosystems
The case highlights growing concerns over the use of mule accounts in organised cybercrime operations across India. Law enforcement agencies have increasingly focused on identifying account providers, shell entities, and intermediaries that help cyber fraud syndicates move illicit funds quickly across states.
Cybercrime investigators say mule accounts remain a critical component of online fraud ecosystems because they help obscure money trails and complicate financial tracing efforts. Gujarat Police are expected to continue financial forensic analysis and coordinate with agencies in other states as the investigation progresses.
