Gujarat police have launched a major crackdown on ‘mule’ bank accounts as part of efforts to curb cyber fraud across the state. The Cyber Crime police station in Morbi, along with other district units, investigated over 250 bank accounts linked to more than 500 mobile numbers.
During the probe, authorities found suspicious activity in seven accounts. Approximately Rs 45.5 lakh deposited in these accounts was withdrawn via ATMs and cheques before being routed to organized cybercrime networks.
Four cases were registered under Sections 316(5), 318(4), 61(2), and 317 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) at Morbi City A and B Division police stations. Fourteen people have been named as accused, with six already arrested: Bharat Barad, Rohit Munjariya, Rahul Munjariya, Anand Halvadia, Varsh Dhama, and Yashpal Dave.
Investigators revealed that several accused rented out their bank accounts and SIM cards for commissions ranging from Rs 2,000 to Rs 10,000. These accounts were subsequently used by cybercriminals to deposit scammed funds, implicating the account holders in the crimes.
Most suspects hail from Morbi city and district, with a few having connections to Ahmedabad and Mumbai. Their occupations include printing, RTO-related services, and daily labor.
Authorities are coordinating with banks across Gujarat to identify and monitor mule accounts. Banks have been advised to flag accounts with frequent UPI transactions or large, rapid withdrawals, which are often linked to fraudulent activity.
Police continue their investigation to dismantle the wider network behind the cyberfraud operations
