The Sambalpur Cyber Crime and Economic Offences Police have arrested two individuals in connection with a Rs 20.70 lakh cyber fraud involving mule bank accounts.
The accused, Jagdish Kumar (44) of New Delhi’s Narela and Ram Ashre (39) of Malkaganj, were reportedly responsible for encashing funds deposited into mule accounts and handing the proceeds over to cyber fraud gangs.
Modus Operandi
Police identified a bank account at the SBI Bamra branch in the name of Sunushi Agro Pvt Ltd as a suspected mule account. The account holder, Achyutananda Patel, was found to be an unwitting victim of an organized cyber fraud racket.
The accused allegedly contacted Patel via WhatsApp after noticing his business on social media and placed a bulk order of 50 agricultural reapers last year. Between August 5 and 14, 2025, a total of Rs 20,70,005 was credited to Patel’s account in 12 transactions, labeled as advance payments for the order.
The fraudsters manipulated Patel into withdrawing Rs 13 lakh in cash and transferring the remaining amount to another account. They also convinced him to contribute Rs 7 lakh of his own funds.
Police Statement
Additional SP Sasanka Sekhar Beura explained, “The accused used a layered impersonation strategy involving business inducement, emergency-based emotional manipulation, and impersonation of politically-connected and central agency-linked persons to exert psychological pressure. Further investigation is underway.”
The accused have been taken into custody, and police are continuing to probe the larger network behind the scam.
