Whitefield Cyber Crime Police have registered a case against a private firm employee in Bengaluru for allegedly allowing his bank account and related banking facilities to be used by cyber fraudsters to route money generated through online scams.
The case was registered after an investigation into suspicious financial transactions found that a private bank account had received funds linked to multiple cyber fraud complaints from different parts of the country. Police suspect the account functioned as a money mule account, used to collect and move proceeds from cybercrime before they were transferred onward or withdrawn in cash.
Account Linked to Multiple Cyber Fraud Cases
According to the complaint filed by sub inspector Manjunath B.P., the account under scrutiny had surfaced in cybercrime cases registered across several locations. These included Bengaluru South Cyber Crime Police Station, South East Cyber Crime Police Station, Avalahalli Police Station, Kerala, Palakkad, Kozhikode Rural, Kolhapur in Maharashtra, Ramanathapuram, Delhi, Pune, Raichur and other places.
Investigators said the spread of linked complaints suggested that the account had been repeatedly used as a channel to receive funds obtained through online fraud. Police said the account was not an isolated banking irregularity but appeared to be part of a wider network used to handle scam proceeds across jurisdictions.
The findings prompted the Whitefield Cyber Crime Police to examine whether the account holder knowingly enabled financial access for cybercriminals and whether others were connected to the routing chain.
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Police Suspect Deliberate Mule Account Role
The account holder was identified as 37 year old Murali G. Reddygopal, a resident of Murthinagar Cross in Bengaluru. Investigators suspect that he knowingly provided his bank account, ATM card, mobile number and internet banking credentials to cybercriminals for illegal transactions.
According to the probe, money obtained through cyber fraud was first deposited into the account and then moved to other bank accounts or withdrawn as cash through ATMs. Officials said the account had already been subjected to debit freeze and lien marking because of its suspected involvement in cybercrime related activity.
Police believe the use of full banking access, including transaction tools and credentials, points to a structured role in the movement of illicit funds rather than a single accidental misuse of an account.
Case Registered Under IT Act and BNS
Based on the investigation so far, Whitefield Cyber Crime Police have registered a case against the accused under Sections 66(C) and 66(D) of the Information Technology Act, 2000, and Sections 319(2) and 318(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.
Further investigation is under way to determine the full extent of the accused’s alleged involvement and to identify other persons connected to the fraud network. The case adds to growing concerns over the use of mule accounts in cybercrime, where ordinary banking channels are allegedly repurposed to hide the movement of stolen money across several states and multiple scam operations.
About the author – Rehan Khan is a law student and legal journalist with a keen interest in cybercrime, digital fraud, and emerging technology laws. He writes on the intersection of law, cybersecurity, and online safety, focusing on developments that impact individuals and institutions in India.
