Eight individuals arrested in a Gujarat cyber fraud investigation as Operation Mule Hunt 2.0 uncovers a ₹288 crore mule account scheme, spanning several cities.
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In Gujarat, eight individuals have been apprehended in connection with a significant cyber fraud investigation where over ₹288 crore in dubious transactions have been identified, according to officials from the state CID Crime.
As reported by PTI, the arrests were made during an extensive statewide operation dubbed “Operation Mule Hunt 2.0,” designed to dismantle organized cyber crime operations. Raids occurred in several cities such as Surat, Rajkot, Bhavnagar, and Unjha.
The CID Crime’s Cyber Centre of Excellence stated that the suspects were allegedly establishing and managing bank accounts in the names of various individuals and enterprises to funnel money associated with cyber fraud.
These accounts, often referred to as mule accounts, serve as conduits for collecting and transferring illicit funds, sometimes with the account holders unaware of their exploitation.
Investigators revealed that funds routed through these accounts were later withdrawn and redistributed through informal channels like hawala and angadia networks.
Authorities noted that the accounts facilitated transactions related to various forms of fraud, including UPI scams, internet banking fraud, fake investment schemes, and deposit-related scams.
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The eight detainees – Mukesh Mer, Faridkhan Nasirkhan Pathan, Akshay Patel, Devendra Patel, Chetan Naranbhai Amalani, Jatin Kakkad, Kapilbhai Kotak, and Mahendra Kokiya – were reportedly cognizant of the illicit use of their accounts and received compensation for their involvement.
Seized materials from the detainees, including mobile devices and a laptop, contained information related to multiple companies, identification documents of various individuals, and forged invoices.
In investigations tied to Surat and Bhavnagar, connections have been drawn to 181 cyber fraud complaints lodged nationwide. Among these, 81 cases have been officially filed as FIRs across different states, with the total amount involved estimated to exceed ₹174 crore.
In another series of cases linked to Unjha in the Mehsana district, investigators uncovered ties to 125 cyber fraud complaints, involving suspicious transactions amounting to over ₹114 crore, according to reports.
In Rajkot, the apprehensions were associated with 26 cyber fraud complaints and one FIR, with an estimated fraud amount of around ₹59.79 lakh.
Meanwhile, officials have advised citizens to refrain from sharing their banking information and to report any fraudulent activities immediately via helpline 1930.
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