Mumbai Police has uncovered an interstate bank account network allegedly used in cyber frauds involving online gaming, cricket betting and casinos. Six people have been arrested and police have identified 110 bank accounts linked to the network.
Dongri Police cyber team received confidential and credible information about the network and subsequently started analyzing banking transactions, technical data and digital evidence. Investigators monitored the activities of suspicious bank accounts and people associated with them.
As the investigation progressed, the police conducted operations at Sandhurst Road Railway Station, Dr. Maheshwari Road and Dongri area. Six people associated with the network were arrested during the operation.
The arrested accused include Nikhil Kamal Kumar Jaiswani, Rahul Shyamlal Parwani and Jai Biharilal Tirpathy. According to the police, all three are residents of Madhya Pradesh. Five other accused are absconding, while notices have been issued to three women to join the investigation.
Police have seized a large quantity of banking and digital equipment from the accused. The seized items included 44 bank passbooks, 70 debit cards, 36 SIM cards, 23 mobile phones, three laptops, one tablet, 12 bank kits and one car.
According to the police, the estimated value of the seized goods is around Rs 50 lakh. A large number of banking documents and digital devices are being examined to establish how the network operated and identify its potential contacts.
During the investigation, the police traced a total of 110 bank accounts. Of these, financial and other information related to 17 accounts was obtained from the respective banks. Analysis of technical details and transactions associated with these accounts revealed links with cyber crimes registered in different parts of the country.
According to the police, financial activity worth Rs 25.45 crore was recorded in the 17 Mule Bank accounts under investigation during the last one and a half to two months. The police are now investigating which beneficiary accounts the money came from and identifying the people or organizations operating those accounts.
The investigation has established links between the bank accounts and 38 cyber crimes and complaints registered across the country. Police suspect that other accounts still under investigation may have been used in other cyber crimes.
A comprehensive analysis of the seized bank accounts has also revealed suspicious transactions and cyber fraud worth more than Rs 100 crore. However, the actual link between all these transactions and cyber crime will become clear only after the investigation is completed.
Investigation revealed that the network was not limited to Dongri area. According to the police, its strings extend to Govandi, Mankhurd and Dongri in Mumbai, as well as Belapur, Panvel and Ulwe in Navi Mumbai. Investigation has also found a connection to Osmanabad.
Complaints related to cyber crimes linked to these bank accounts have been registered not only in Maharashtra but also in other states including Karnataka, Telangana, Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Jammu and Kashmir and West Bengal.
This led the investigating agencies to suspect that the network was being used to transfer money obtained through cyber fraud from one place to another in different states.
Following the arrest of six accused, the next phase of the Dongri police investigation is focused on identifying the main cyber criminals operating behind the network.
Police are investigating how much money was given to provide bank accounts to the arrested accused and who was given the information about these accounts.
The investigating agencies are analyzing banking records and data recovered from mobile phones, SIM cards, laptops and other digital devices. The purpose of the analysis is to identify potential beneficiary accounts, contacts and others associated with cyber crime.
Police are also searching for the absconding accused. More information about other people associated with the network and additional bank accounts is expected to emerge as the investigation progresses.
Dongri Police has appealed to the citizens not to give their bank accounts, passbooks, debit cards, checkbooks, SIM cards or mobile phones on the request of any other person. Renting out a bank account or allowing another person to use it can lead to serious legal and financial problems.
Police have also advised people not to share OTP, PIN, internet banking password or other banking information with anyone. If any unknown or suspicious transaction appears in an account, the account holder should immediately contact the bank and inform the concerned authorities.
Action has been taken in the case under relevant sections of the Indian Justice Code and Information Technology Act. Mumbai Police is now working to establish the financial links of the network and identify the cyber criminals operating behind it.