Narsinghpur police have achieved a major breakthrough against cybercriminals operating in Narsinghpur district. Police have busted a gang that was illegally transacting crores of rupees by using the bank accounts of ordinary citizens as ‘mule accounts’ (rented accounts). Investigations have revealed that more than Rs 15 crore were transferred through approximately 180 bank accounts. They used to collect passbooks and ATMs through allurement. Members of the fraud gang lured innocent citizens with promises of small financial gains.

 

They would trick people into opening bank accounts and then seize their passbooks, ATM cards and login credentials. These accounts were later used to launder illegal money earned through online gaming, sextortion and cyber fraud. A special team formed under the direction of SP Dr Rishikesh Meena conducted the raid based on technical evidence. During this period, police arrested 17 accused and sent them to jail. Over 35 mule accounts were immediately closed. Nine passbooks, four ATM cards and nine mobile phones were seized. Cases have been registered against the accused under sections 318(4) and 3(5) of BNS (BNS) at Stationganj, Gadarwara and Kareli police stations.

 

The gang’s modus operandi was extremely sophisticated. The defrauded funds were first deposited into these mule accounts. They were then laundered by transferring funds to various accounts, withdrawing cash, or depositing them into online gaming platforms. Police have written to relevant banks, instructing them to block transactions in other suspicious accounts as well. Over the past year, Narsinghpur police have taken an aggressive stance against cyber fraud. Till now, police have put a hold on an amount of about Rs 45 lakh and have returned defrauded amount of about Rs 53 lakh to the accounts of victims. In this operation, officers of Cyber Cell along with In-charges of Kareli, Stationganj and Gadarwara police stations played a key role.