Argus News - Breaking News: Odisha Police Bust Mule Account Rackets, 379 Arrested in Statewide Crackdown on Cybercrime Networks

Bhubaneswar, Mar 17: Odisha Police has intensified its crackdown on cybercrime with a state-wide operation named Cyber Kavach, aimed at dismantling mule bank account networks, fake SIM card syndicates, and online fraud rackets.

According to official data, within just one month of the operation, police across districts have verified 39,714 mule accounts, arrested 379 individuals, and issued notices to 7,549 suspicious account holders.

The campaign has targeted fraud networks operating through mule accounts, fake SIM cards, online betting platforms, hawala transactions, and cryptocurrency scams.

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The operation was launched following a review meeting chaired by the Director General of Police (DGP) YB Khurania on February 11, 2026. Acting on the DGP’s directives, district SPs led raids against mule account holders, complicit bank employees, and SIM vendors.

Several high-value fraud cases, which were exposed across Odisha:

• In Jharsuguda, six members of an inter-state mule account gang, linked to a ₹5.25 crore fraud case, were arrested. Another case involving ₹12 crore led to six more arrests.
• In Sambalpur, police busted a gang responsible for ₹1.3 crore fraud, arresting five individuals in the process.
• In Rourkela, six suspects arrested for mule account fraud, online betting, and hawala transactions. Authorities seized ₹30.65 lakh during the operation.
• In Ganjam, five individuals were arrested in Beguniapada in a ₹2 crore fraud case, while in Chhatrapur, four were arrested in a ₹1 crore cryptocurrency scam. Other arrests included suspects in Buguda (₹4 crore fraud) and Aska (₹1.5 crore fraud).
• In Nuapada, police identified three mule accounts used in an inter-state fraud worth nearly ₹3 crore, arresting six suspects.
• In Bhubaneswar, police dismantled a national-level mule syndicate using fake KYC and pre-activated SIMs, arresting four people and seizing luxury cars, MacBooks, and 37 debit cards.
• In Cuttack, police exposed a ₹29.33 crore mule account racket, arresting five suspects and seizing SIM cards, gold, and vehicles.
• In Balasore, police arrested a gang involved in ₹58 lakh fraud, seizing 147 ATM cards and uncovering a corporate account hacking case using SMS forwarder APKs.
• In Bhadrak, three suspects were arrested in an ₹84 lakh fraud case.
• In Puri, police arrested key accused in a ₹45 lakh mule account scam.
• In Jajpur, police exposed a racket involving fake identities, mule accounts, and illegal crypto mining.
• In Dhenkanal, police investigated suspicious digital transactions worth ₹48 lakh through payment gateways.

Investigations revealed bank employees’ involvement in some cases:

• In Laikera, one employee was found diverting 42 mule kits, facilitating transactions worth ₹2.86 crore.
• In Keonjhar, police uncovered fraud through 58 mule accounts amounting to ₹1.14 crore.
• In Sundargarh, three family members were arrested for using mule accounts to commit fraud worth ₹4.19 crore.

Strengthening Cybercrime Investigation

The state has established 20 new cyber police stations. Specialized training is being provided to officers on handling digital fraud cases. The DGP has praised the dedication of SPs, IGs, crime branch officials, banking and telecom authorities, and acknowledged the role of media in spreading cyber awareness. He reiterated the police’s commitment to building a cybercrime-free Odisha.