Operation Mule Hunt 2.0: Gujarat police bust Rs 398.43-crore cyber fraud, 14 held

PATAN: Patan Cyber Crime Police have busted a cyber fraud racket involving illegal transactions worth Rs 398.43 crore routed through 13 mule accounts on Monday. The mule accounts have been linked to 228 inter-state cyber fraud complaints, through which police arrested 14 people from Patan district under “Operation Mule Hunt 2.0”.The action was carried out as part of the state government’s drive to curb online fraud and dismantle the financial networks of cybercriminals, news agency PTI reported.Police said analysis of data available on the Union government’s SAMANVAYA system and the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (NCCRP) revealed suspicious transactions in certain current accounts opened at Harij Nagrik Sahakari Bank in Patan district.Investigation revealed that some individuals lured people with commissions to open firms and bank accounts in their names.The account holders allegedly handed over ATM cards, cheque books, SIM cards, mobile numbers and internet banking credentials to middlemen and cyber fraudsters. These accounts were then used to channel the proceeds of cybercrimes across the country, police said.Patan cybercrime police registered a case under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS) against 20 people, including 13 account holders and seven middlemen. Of them, 14 have been arrested, while six others are absconding and efforts are underway to trace them.Further investigation in this case is currently underway.(With agency inputs)