Bengaluru Employee Booked for Allegedly Routing Cyber Fraud Funds Through Bank Account

Bengaluru cybercrime police have registered a case against a private company employee for allegedly allowing his bank account and digital banking credentials to be used in a large-scale cyber fraud money laundering network. Authorities say the account was used to route funds collected from victims of online scams across multiple Indian states.

The case has once again highlighted the growing misuse of so-called “mule accounts” in cybercrime operations, where legitimate bank accounts are allegedly exploited to move and conceal stolen money.

Suspicious Transactions Linked to Multiple Cyber Fraud Cases

According to Whitefield Cyber Crime Police, the investigation began after suspicious financial activity was detected in a private bank account. The account reportedly received funds linked to several cyber fraud complaints registered across India.

These include cases reported from:

• Bengaluru (multiple cyber crime police stations)
• Kerala districts including Palakkad and Kozhikode Rural
• Maharashtra (Kolhapur and Pune)
• Tamil Nadu (Ramanathapuram)
• Delhi and other regions

Investigators noted that the repeated appearance of the same account across unrelated cases suggested its systematic use in routing illicit funds.

Account Allegedly Used as a Money Mule

Police identified the account holder as Murali G. Reddygopal, a 37-year-old Bengaluru resident employed in a private firm.

Authorities suspect that the accused knowingly provided access to his banking tools—including ATM card, mobile banking, and internet banking credentials—to cybercriminals. The account was then allegedly used to:

• Receive funds from fraud victims
• Transfer money to multiple destination accounts
• Withdraw cash through ATMs

Officials believe the structure of transactions indicates intentional involvement rather than accidental misuse.

Banking Tools Used to Move Illicit Funds

Investigators say fraud proceeds were rapidly cycled through the account before being dispersed to other accounts or withdrawn in cash. The account has already been frozen and marked under lien due to its suspected role in cybercrime activities.

Police also noted that control over full banking access—including passwords and authentication tools—suggests the account functioned as part of a coordinated financial network supporting online fraud operations.

Legal Action Under IT Act and Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita

Based on the preliminary findings, police have registered a case under provisions of:

• Sections 66(C) and 66(D) of the Information Technology Act, 2000
• Sections 319(2) and 318(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023

These provisions relate to identity theft, cheating by impersonation, and criminal conspiracy in financial fraud cases.

Investigators are now working to identify additional individuals involved in the money transfer chain and determine whether the accused was part of a larger organized network.

Rising Threat of Mule Account Networks

Cybercrime officials have repeatedly warned about the increasing use of mule accounts in online fraud cases. These accounts are often used to:

• Break the financial trail of stolen money
• Transfer funds across multiple jurisdictions
• Evade detection by law enforcement agencies
• Facilitate large-scale digital fraud operations

Authorities say such networks have become a critical backbone of cyber fraud ecosystems in India, enabling scams ranging from investment fraud to phishing and impersonation schemes.

Conclusion

The Bengaluru case underscores how legitimate banking channels are increasingly being exploited to facilitate cybercrime. With investigations ongoing, police are focusing on uncovering the broader network behind the fraudulent transactions and tracing the final beneficiaries of the diverted funds.

Officials have urged citizens to safeguard banking credentials and avoid sharing account access with unknown individuals, warning that even passive involvement in mule account operations can lead to serious legal consequences.