The Central Cyber Police Station in Mumbai has busted an alleged interstate racket that operated mule bank accounts for cyber criminals across the country. Seven accused have been arrested for allegedly facilitating the movement and withdrawal of money obtained through online frauds. During the investigation, police found that the bank accounts linked to the accused had surfaced in 84 cyber crime cases registered across India, indicating a widespread network used to launder proceeds of cyber fraud. Police have seized Rs 10 lakh in cash along with mobile phones, SIM cards, cheque books, company stamps and other incriminating documents from the accused.
According to police, acting on a tip-off received on July 29, a team from the Central Cyber Police Station laid a trap at the Indian Overseas Bank branch on Chandavarkar Road in Borivli West. Officers allegedly caught the accused immediately after they withdrew R10 lakh using a cash cheque from a mule bank account. The group was allegedly preparing to withdraw another R10 lakh when police moved in and arrested three suspects on the spot.
Cash, SIMS, SIM cards, cheque books and other incriminating documents from the accused
Police identified the arrested accused as Salman Habib Pathan, 34, Sajid Nishar Ahmed Kothawala, 46, Chirag Ketan Toprani, 31, Syed Wajahat Wahiuddin, 41, Rakesh Ramashankar Mishra, 42, Rakshit K. Rajendra Hegde, 35, and Aryan Ritesh Thakkar, 18.
During interrogation, investigators found that the accused were allegedly in contact with cyber fraudsters. The gang allegedly opened or managed bank accounts in the names of different companies, allowed fraudulent transactions through them and later withdrew the funds in cash using cheques before handing the money over to the cyber criminals.
An FIR has been registered under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Section 66D of the Information Technology Act.
The operation was supervised by the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Cyber Crime) Bajrang Bansode and was led by Senior Police Inspector Chimaji Adhav of the Central Cyber Police Station, Worli.
What the police found
R10 lakh in cash
16 mobile phones
31 company stamps
23 SIM cards
22 cheque books of different bank accounts
. Seven Indian Overseas Bank account kits in the names of different companies
. One cash-counting machine
. Aadhaar cards, PAN cards of individuals
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