Mumbai Cyber Police arrest seven in mule bank account racket linked to 84 cyber fraud cases

The Mumbai Cyber Police have busted an alleged mule bank account racket and arrested seven persons accused of opening bank accounts used to launder proceeds of cyber fraudDuring the operation police seized Rs 10 lakh in cash 16 mobile phones company stamps SIM cards cheque books and other incriminating materialThe police said the bank accounts recovered during the investigation were linked to more than 84 cyber crime cases registered across the countryTipoff leads police to suspectsAccording to the Cyber Police Station Central Division Worli the operation began after police received specific information on July 29 that Salman Pathan and his associates were planning to withdraw money deposited in mule bank accounts through cyber fraud at either the Borivali or Mahim branch of Indian Overseas BankActing on the tipoff a police team reached the Indian Overseas Bank branch on Chandavarkar Road in Borivali West at around 3 pmInvestigators found that the accused had already withdrawn Rs 10 lakh in cash through a cheque and were attempting to withdraw another Rs 10 lakh Police immediately apprehended Salman Pathan and two of his associatesRaids at two offices four more arrestedDuring interrogation the accused allegedly revealed details of two offices linked to the racket KGN Enterprises in Bhayandar West and Richa Enterprises at Shanti Shopping Centre in Mira Road Police subsequently raided both premises and detained four more suspectsWith the latest arrests a total of seven accused have been taken into custody Investigators alleged that the group was involved in opening mule bank accounts and facilitating withdrawals of fraud proceeds through cheques on behalf of cyber criminalsA case has been registered under FIR No 1062026 under relevant Sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Information Technology Act 2000Seven accused arrestedThe accused have been identified asSalman Habib Pathan 34Sajid Nishar Ahmed Kothawala 46Chirag Ketan Toprani 37Sayyad Vajahat Waheeduddin 41Rakesh Ramashankar Mishra 42Rakshit K Rajendra Hegde 35Aryan Ritesh Thakkar 18Cash phones and bank account kits seizedDuring searches conducted at the accused persons offices and residences police seizedRs 10 lakh in cash16 mobile phones31 company stamps and seals23 SIM cards22 cheque books linked to different bank accountsSeven Indian Overseas Bank account kits registered in the names of different companiesOne cashcounting machineBank account opening documents bank statements and identity documents including Aadhaar cards PAN cardPhotographs and SIM cards of 11 individualsBank statements and documents relating to multiple bank accountsTwo bank accountopening devices from Mahim and BhayandarAccounts linked to over 84 cyber crime casesPolice said the recovered bank accounts were verified through the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal which revealed that they had allegedly been used in more than 84 cyber crime cases registered across different parts of IndiaCyber Police issue public advisoryThe Mumbai Cyber Police also urged citizens to remain vigilant against online frauds The advisory cautioned people against allowing others to use their bank accounts for suspicious transactions joining unknown WhatsApp or Telegram groups clicking suspicious links or sharing confidential banking and identity detailsPolice advised investors to deal only with SEBIregistered advisers and transfer funds only to their own demat accounts Citizens were also warned not to install APK files received through unauthorised sourcesIn case of suspected cyber fraud police urged the public to immediately call the national cyber crime helpline 1930 file a complaint on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal or approach the nearest police station