Mehsana: In a startling twist to a cyber fraud investigation, a 41-year-old man from Mehsana, accused of operating multiple mule bank accounts, allegedly tried to mislead police by filing a false complaint and projecting himself as a victim of online fraud.
₹77.5 Lakh Fraud Claim Raises Police Suspicion
According to police officials, the accused recently approached the cyber helpline, claiming he had been cheated out of ₹77.5 lakh through 12 bank accounts. However, what initially appeared to be a major fraud complaint soon raised suspicion during verification. A deeper inquiry by the Mehsana cybercrime police reportedly revealed that the complaint was false and had been filed to divert attention from the accused’s role in routing cyber-fraud funds.
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The case was registered on May 1 after a police constable attached to the Mehsana cybercrime police station filed a formal complaint. The inquiry began after suspicious bank accounts were flagged on the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre portal. Investigators then examined transaction records and found links between the accused and several accounts allegedly used to move the proceeds of cybercrime.
12 Mule Accounts Linked To Cybercrime Trail
Police said two accounts connected to the accused, opened with Ujjivan Small Finance Bank and Equitas Bank, were identified as mule accounts. Further scrutiny revealed that the accused was allegedly operating as many as 12 bank accounts across different banks. These accounts were reportedly used to receive and transfer funds obtained through cyber fraud cases registered across the country.
Complaints Across Several States Under Scanner
Investigators have so far traced fraudulent transactions worth around ₹14.1 lakh through these accounts. Police also found that at least 15 complaints from Gujarat, Telangana, Karnataka, Delhi, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar were linked to the same bank accounts. The cases reportedly involved different types of online scams, including credit card fraud, loan settlement fraud and fake contest schemes.
Officials said the accused’s name and mobile numbers had appeared in several cyber fraud complaints lodged across states. When questioned, he allegedly admitted that his own complaint to the helpline was false. Police suspect the move was planned to create a defensive cover and delay action against him.
Probe Widens To Trace Accomplices And Money Flow
A case has been registered under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including cheating, criminal conspiracy and fraudulent financial transactions. Investigators are now trying to identify possible accomplices, trace additional suspicious transactions and determine whether the accused was part of a wider mule account network.
Police said the case highlights how cyber fraud networks misuse bank accounts to layer stolen money and even attempt to manipulate the investigation process.
About the author – Manoj Borana is a law graduate from GNLU with a strong interest in legal affairs, technology, cybercrime, and digital safety. He writes about crime, governance, rights, online activity, and technology-related risks, with a focus on raising public awareness.
