Kanpur Police Bust ₹100 Crore Mule Account Network, 3 Arrested

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Police dismantled a cyber fraud operation involving a mule account network alleged to have facilitated illicit financial transactions totaling ₹100 crore.

Police Dismantle Cyber Fraud Operation

Kanpur police dismantled a cyber fraud operation involving a mule account network alleged to have facilitated illicit financial transactions totaling ₹100 crore. Three individuals were detained in connection with the scheme, and investigators froze approximately ₹23 crore linked to 29 reported cases. The probe uncovered 85 banking cards, 37 SIM devices, and point-of-sale (POS) terminals, with suspicions of ties to handlers based in Dubai.

Key Findings and Seizures

The operation centered on the creation of bank accounts under false identities, which were then exploited for laundering proceeds from cybercrime. Authorities identified 29 complaints filed on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal, prompting the freeze of funds. Investigators estimate the network processed transactions worth nearly ₹100 crore over two years.

According to police, the accused allegedly recruited individuals to open savings, current, and merchant accounts using stolen personal documents, including Aadhaar and PAN cards. These accounts were then used to transfer illicit funds.

Arrests and Suspect Details

The arrested suspects—Kapil Verma (alias Shanty), Abhay Pratap, and Rohit Singh (alias Rudra)—were detained near Dada Nagar Dhaal following a joint operation by Fazalganj police and the cyber cell. Each account was reportedly utilized for transactions of approximately ₹10 lakh, with account holders receiving commissions of ₹40,000 to ₹80,000.

International Connections and Evidence

The investigation revealed potential international connections, with links to a Dubai-based individual, Sultan Mirza, who is accused in a separate cybercrime case involving ₹3,200 crore. Police are examining alleged ties between the suspects and associates in Lucknow, Kanpur, Agra, and Unnao.

Additional evidence includes audio recordings of conversations between suspects and bank employees, involving personnel from 23 financial institutions. The seized materials included three laptops, 85 cards, four POS machines, 37 SIMs, 15 cheque books, 18 passbooks, and four other financial instruments.

Investigation and Future Steps

Investigators are analyzing transaction records to trace the flow of funds and identify final beneficiaries. The case has raised concerns about potential collusion within the banking sector, as the suspects allegedly exploited account closure delays—typically 10 days—to conduct multiple transactions before accounts were terminated.

Police are continuing to interrogate the arrested individuals to map connections between account holders, cybercriminals, and overseas operators. The investigation remains focused on uncovering the full scope of the network and identifying additional participants.

Suspects and Alleged Activities

Kapil Verma (alias Shanty)
Abhay Pratap
Rohit Singh (alias Rudra)

The suspects retained a portion of the earnings while distributing the remainder to account holders, enabling the network to amass a large volume of accounts.