Patna: Cyber frauds involving nearly Rs 63 crore have prompted Bihar Police to identify 5,035 suspected mule bank accounts across the state under the first phase of its special anti-cybercrime drive, Cyber Prahar 3.0.The accounts are linked to 5,068 complaints lodged on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal, triggering a statewide probe into the financial networks backing organised cybercrime. The campaign is being conducted under the supervision of inspector general of police (crime and security) Ranjit Mishra, deputy inspector general Avkash Kumar and superintendent of police (investigation and operations) Rajesh Kumar.So far, police have verified 704 suspicious accounts, arrested 54 accused and registered 21 FIRs. Investigators are also examining CCTV footage from locations where the fraud money was withdrawn.In Warisaliganj, police seized Rs 71,300 in cash, 26 ATM cards, 13 passbooks and cheque books, several cellphones and fake sim cards during a raid. In another operation in Patna and Deoghar, Jharkhand, three people allegedly involved in supplying mule accounts to cyber fraudsters were arrested.Investigators have identified 22 bank branches where 3,113 suspected mule accounts were opened, bringing the branches under scrutiny.The drive has also exposed a racket involved in generating forged identity documents. Police have identified 815 suspected users, retailers and distributors linked to websites producing fake Aadhaar cards, PAN cards and ration cards. So far, 41 FIRs have been registered and 67 people arrested.Action against fake sim networks has led to the identification of 162 suspected point-of-sale agents. Police also arrested three people in Gaya and Darbhanga for allegedly supplying sim cards to cyber fraud networks, including syndicates operating in Southeast Asia.In Madhubani, police busted an international SIM Box network allegedly used in cross-border fraud. Four cyber criminals were arrested and seven SIM Boxes, 167 mobile phones and 44 sim cards seized. Officials said the probe uncovered what they described as the country’s first known use of a software-based sim box.Launched in late April, Cyber Prahar 3.0 will continue across Bihar.
