Chhattisgarh – A major cybercrime racket involving suspicious financial transactions worth over ₹3.48 crore has been uncovered in Sakti district. The case surfaced after intelligence was received through the Coordination Portal of the Government of India and was acted upon swiftly under the leadership of Superintendent of Police (SP) Ankita Sharma.
The Punjab National Bank (PNB) account of Saurabh Agarwal alias Chinu, a resident of Sakti, was found to have processed a series of suspicious transactions totaling ₹3,48,73,171 between January 14 and January 30, 2024. The investigation, led by Additional SP Harish Yadav, indicates this was part of a larger cyber fraud operation involving mule accounts.
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Accused Sent to Jail After Admitting Involvement
Following the preliminary probe, Saurabh Agarwal was booked under Section 420 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) for cheating and fraud. After his arrest, Saurabh reportedly accepted his involvement in the fraud. The police presented him in court, and he was subsequently sent to judicial remand.
In a further breakthrough, the first-layer mule account holder, identified as Nikhil Karsh, was also arrested based on digital and transactional evidence. He has also been remanded to judicial custody.
Authorities believe the arrested individuals were part of a broader network that used multiple layers of mule accounts to obscure the trail of illicit funds.
PNB Account Used for High-Volume Transactions in Short Span
Police investigators discovered that the PNB account belonging to Saurabh Agarwal had recorded unusually high-volume and rapid transactions over just two weeks. Such transactional behavior triggered alerts, which were subsequently analyzed by cybercrime units using data from the Government of India’s Coordination Portal.
Cybercrime experts believe this account was deliberately used as a mule account to receive, layer, and possibly forward funds obtained through online scams such as phishing, investment fraud, or impersonation.
“The investigation is actively progressing, and more suspects are likely to be arrested in the coming days,” said a senior police official. Authorities are now examining the beneficiaries and end-point accounts where the diverted money may have eventually landed.
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Digital Fraud Raises New Concerns for Public and Law Enforcement
This case adds to the growing list of sophisticated cybercrimes in India, particularly those that exploit mule accounts and loopholes in digital financial systems. It also underlines the critical role of inter-agency coordination and tech-based monitoring in uncovering such operations.
The police have issued a public advisory urging citizens to remain alert, especially regarding unsolicited transactions or requests involving personal bank accounts. Any suspicious financial activity should be reported immediately through helplines or cybercrime portals.
As the investigation deepens, law enforcement is focusing on tracing the full network of financial operatives, including those potentially operating from other states or abroad.