Kanpur Police Arrest 35 in ₹30 Crore Mule Account Crackdown

Kanpur Commissionerate Police have arrested 35 individuals allegedly involved in operating mule bank accounts that investigators claim were used to facilitate cyber fraud worth nearly ₹30 crore. The action was carried out as part of the city’s ongoing Operation Cy-Vajra, a campaign targeting organised cybercrime and financial fraud.

According to police, the accused allegedly allowed cybercriminals to use their bank accounts in return for commissions, enabling the movement of funds generated through various online scams.

Nearly 100 Complaints Linked to the Accounts

Deputy Commissioner of Police (West) S.M. Qasim Abidi said investigators traced the accounts after examining complaints registered on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (NCRP). Officials found that almost 100 cybercrime complaints were connected to the accounts under investigation, with the total financial loss estimated at approximately ₹30 crore.

During questioning, police allege that the accused admitted to handing over access to their bank accounts in exchange for financial incentives. Investigators claim they provided ATM cards, cheque books, internet banking credentials, and other banking details to individuals linked to cyber fraud operations.

Authorities believe the accounts were primarily used to transfer and conceal money generated through online investment scams, betting platforms, and gaming-related fraud.

Investigation Moves Beyond Account Holders

Police described the arrested individuals as the first layer of the alleged money-laundering chain. Investigators are now focused on identifying the organisers and operators who controlled the accounts and tracing how the money was moved after entering the banking system.

Officials are also verifying the identities of those who collected banking credentials from the account holders. Police expect additional arrests as the investigation expands to uncover the broader criminal network behind the transactions.

The Cyber Cell registered cases and conducted arrests across ten police station areas, including Shivrajpur, Armapur, Bilhaur, Panki, Sachendi, Araul, Kalyanpur, Rawatpur, Chaubepur, and Bithoor.

DCP Abidi warned that sharing bank account details or allowing unknown individuals to operate personal banking facilities is a criminal offence and can result in legal action.

Continued Crackdown on Financial Cybercrime

The latest operation is part of Kanpur Police’s intensified efforts against mule account networks throughout 2026. In recent months, investigators have uncovered several cyber fraud operations involving bank accounts allegedly used to move illicit funds generated through online scams.

Cybersecurity experts say mule accounts remain a key tool for organised cybercriminals because they help disguise the movement of illegally obtained money and complicate financial investigations. By routing funds through multiple accounts, criminal networks attempt to make it more difficult for authorities to identify the individuals responsible.

Legal experts also note that while knowingly allowing a bank account to be used for unlawful financial transactions may attract criminal liability, the arrests represent allegations at this stage. Under Indian law, all accused individuals are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.

Police confirmed that forensic examination of banking records, digital evidence, and financial transactions is continuing as investigators work to identify additional suspects and dismantle the wider cybercrime network.