Cyber police in Patna are probing a mule-account network allegedly used to route crores of rupees from online fraud.
How did the mule account network emerge?
The case surfaced in Pandarak village under the Barh police station area of Patna district after local women submitted a written complaint to the cyber police. During the inquiry, police learnt that bank accounts had allegedly been opened in the names of around 400 to 500 villagers.
According to Patna Cyber DSP Sangeeta Kumari, a cyber police team was sent to Pandarak after receiving the complaint. Investigators questioned villagers and the name of a woman, identified as around 50-year-old Sita Devi, emerged during the inquiry.
Police allege that Sita Devi persuaded villagers to open bank accounts by promising benefits under government schemes. The schemes cited included those related to grain procurement, toilet construction and other government benefits.
How were the bank accounts allegedly used?
Investigators said bank accounts were opened and ATM cards activated after villagers were offered the prospect of receiving money under government schemes. Police allege that cybercriminals subsequently used these accounts to conduct transactions involving proceeds from fraud.
The investigation also found that loans worth lakhs of rupees had allegedly been taken through mule accounts opened in villagers’ names. Police said villagers became aware of the matter only after the alleged activity came to light.
During questioning, Sita Devi allegedly admitted her involvement in the case, following which police arrested her.
What did police recover during the investigation?
Based on questioning after the arrest, police conducted a search at the house of an alleged network leader. Several items were recovered, including mobile phones, a walkie-talkie, dozens of SIM cards, bank cheque books, passbooks and ATM cards.
The scale of the alleged operation has prompted investigators to examine how such a large number of bank accounts and SIM cards were activated and used for financial transactions.
Police are also looking into possible involvement or complicity of banks in connection with the accounts.
How large could the alleged fraud be?
Police believe the cyber fraud carried out through the network could exceed ₹5 crore, although the exact amount will be known only after the investigation is completed.
Cyber police are now conducting searches to arrest other people allegedly connected with the network. Investigators are tracing how the accounts were created, how they were operated and how money linked to cyber fraud moved through them.
The case highlights how mule accounts can place unsuspecting account holders at the centre of financial transactions carried out by cybercriminals, particularly when accounts are allegedly obtained by promising access to government benefits.
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