Cybercrime / Sambalpur Court Convicts Mule Account Holder in Cyber Fraud Case

Kataka, Aug 11: In a significant judgment against cyber fraud, the Sambalpur JMFC Court has convicted Gouri Shankar Dash (32) for operating a mule account used in cybercrime.

The court found him guilty under Sections 317(2) and 112(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

Dash has been sentenced to two years of rigorous imprisonment and fined ₹10,000 under each section, with both sentences running concurrently. In case of non-payment of fines, he will serve an additional two months of imprisonment for each default.

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The conviction comes under the state-wide Operation ‘Cyber Kavach’, launched under the directive of Odisha DGP Yogesh Bahadur Khurania. The campaign aims to dismantle networks of mule accounts and ensure strict legal action against individuals aiding cyber fraud.

During investigation, Dash’s Kotak Mahindra Bank account was flagged through the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (NCRP).

Authorities discovered deposits of ₹9,000, ₹11,500, ₹9,000 and ₹4,050 — totalling ₹33,550 — linked to fraudulent transactions. Dash failed to provide satisfactory explanations for these deposits.

The case was registered at Sambalpur Town Police Station (Case No. 74, dated March 2, 2026) under multiple BNS sections including 318(4), 317(2), 112(2), 61(2), along with IT Act Sections 66(C) and 66(D). Dash was arrested the same day, and a preliminary chargesheet was filed on April 28, 2026.

During trial, five witnesses testified, and crucial evidence including bank records and seized documents were presented. Based on the evidence, the court pronounced Dash guilty.

DGP Khurania praised Sambalpur Police’s scientific investigation and emphasized Odisha Police’s “Zero Tolerance” policy against cybercrime and mule accounts.