Ahmedabad cyber sleuths bust mule-account link in ₹9.85-lakh fraud, 2 held

The Cyber Crime Police Station in Ahmedabad has booked two men for allegedly allowing their bank accounts to be used as “mule accounts” by a cyber-fraud syndicate that siphoned off funds from victims across multiple states. The arrests were made as part of the state-wide 'Operation Mule Hunt', launched to curb financial fraud facilitated through rented or commissioned bank accounts.

The Cyber Crime Police analysed data from the Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre’s portal and identified suspicious accounts that had received fraud-linked transfers. One such Bank of Baroda account number, was found to be registered in the name of Suresh Viramal, 35, a resident of Bharwad Vas in New Vadaj.

Police said Suresh admitted to opening the account in April 2025 “to earn quick money” and had handed over control of the account to his acquaintance, Pankaj Kumar alias Pritam Yadav, 33, who lived in a rented house in New Vadaj. Investigators stated that Suresh received ₹15,000 as commission for allowing its use.

On April 25, 2025, ₹9.85 lakh, allegedly proceeds of cyber fraud, was transferred into Suresh’s account in multiple instalments. Of this, ₹9.79 lakh was immediately withdrawn in cash on the same day by Suresh himself and handed over to Pankaj, who allegedly delivered the money to members of the cybercrime syndicate.

Preliminary investigation suggests that the larger gang lured Indian citizens with fraudulent online investment schemes, collected funds from multiple victims, and routed the money through mule accounts before either converting it into cash or cryptocurrency.

The FIR states that both Suresh and Pankaj knowingly facilitated the syndicate despite being aware that the group was engaged in criminal activities. They have been booked under relevant sections of the BNS, including cheating, criminal conspiracy and assisting organised crime.