Bhubaneswar: Odisha police blocked nearly 40,000 mule accounts used by cyber scammers to funnel illicit funds worth over Rs 500 crore, during a month-long enforcement drive, informed director general of police Y B Khurania on Tuesday.The operation, codenamed Cyber Kavach, ran from Feb 13 to March 12. Khurania described the operation as a decisive strike against the financial backbone of online fraud networks.The crackdown led to the identification of 39,714 mule bank accounts, 24 fake SIM operating points, and the arrest of 379 persons, mostly middlemen who lured unsuspecting citizens into allowing access to their accounts in exchange for commissions. Over 7,500 notices were served to mule account holders and associates to ensure compliance and strengthen investigative scrutiny.“Those who tried to escape during the month-long crackdown should not assume it was a one-time enforcement. Action will continue as investigations progress,” warned Khurania.The DGP acknowledged the continuing challenge of cybercrime and urged both police and banks to remain vigilant to prevent the creation of new mule accounts.“A coordinated, intelligence-led enforcement drive launched across all districts succeeded in dismantling mule account networks and disrupting the financial infrastructure sustaining cyber fraud. I urge stakeholders not to lower their guards,” Khurania told journalists at Bhubaneswar.The top cop praised the coordinated efforts of Jharsuguda, Sambalpur, Sonepur, Rourkela, Keonjhar, Sundargarh, Ganjam, Nuapada, Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Balasore, Bhadrak, Puri Jajpur and Dhenaknal district police for busting several cyber gangs during the operation.Police authorities have warned that even permitting the use of personal accounts without direct involvement in fraud attracts serious criminal liability under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and cyber laws.According to Crime Branch SP Smit Parmar, these mule accounts, often used for routing, layering, and withdrawing illicit funds, have emerged as a critical tool in scams ranging from digital arrest frauds to online trading rackets.Mule accounts are typically opened or shared by individuals who allow fraudsters to move illegal money in exchange for commissions. They enable transactions such as cheque withdrawals, cryptocurrency conversions, and rapid fund transfers, forming the backbone of cybercrime operations.Investigations reveal that scammers often procure these accounts through social media platforms, targetting students, low-income individuals, and defunct businesses. Once acquired, the accounts are remotely controlled, making detection challenging.
