UP’s Cy-Vajra Drive Unravels ₹21 Crore Mule Account Racket

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Uttar Pradesh Police dismantled a ₹21 crore mule account racket under the Cy-Vajra cybercrime drive, arresting five individuals including a former BJP leader.

The Case: Mule Accounts and Financial Fraud

The Uttar Pradesh Police, during its ongoing “Cy-Vajra” cybercrime initiative, dismantled a large-scale financial fraud operation involving over 20 fabricated and mule bank accounts. The investigation led to the arrest of five individuals, including Vijay Soni, a former BJP OBC Morcha office-bearer, with authorities reporting suspicious transactions exceeding ₹21 crore. Approximately ₹3.20 crore has been frozen as part of the probe.

The Modus Operandi

The syndicate operated by luring financially vulnerable individuals with job offers at a solar energy firm, leveraging this pretext to secure GST registrations. Instead of establishing salary accounts, the perpetrators opened current accounts under victims’ names while retaining control of chequebooks, debit cards, and internet banking access. These accounts were subsequently used to process funds from investment fraud schemes, digital extortion, and sextortion, with 43 related complaints documented on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal across multiple states.

The Investigation and Raids

During raids, law enforcement recovered six mobile devices, 15 Aadhaar cards, ten SIM cards, eight official stamps, two two-wheelers, and documentation linked to shell companies. Forensic analysis of seized materials aims to identify additional beneficiaries and trace financial pathways. The case emerged after two victims filed complaints, prompting an investigation that uncovered the broader network through bank transaction reviews.

The Operation: Cy-Vajra Drive

The Gonda operation marks an early outcome of Operation Cy-Vajra, a seven-day statewide campaign initiated by Director General of Police Rajeev Krishna on July 6 to accelerate cybercrime enforcement and expedite financial restitution for victims. Since April 2025, Uttar Pradesh Police reported blocking 2.94 lakh suspicious mobile numbers and placing ₹530 crore in cyber fraud cases under lien.

Expert Warnings and Public Alerts

Experts highlight the growing challenge of mule account misuse, where criminals exploit unemployed or financially distressed individuals to create layered financial trails. Prof. Triveni Singh, a former IPS officer and cybercrime specialist, emphasized that even unwitting participation in such schemes can result in severe legal repercussions. Authorities have reiterated warnings against sharing bank accounts, ATM cards, chequebooks, SIMs, or KYC documents with third parties, urging the public to report suspicious activities via the National Cyber Helpline (1930) or the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal to enhance recovery chances.

“Even unwitting participation in such schemes can result in severe legal repercussions,” said Prof. Triveni Singh, a former IPS officer and cybercrime specialist.