The Telangana Cyber Security Bureau (TGCSB) has launched a massive offensive against cybercrime facilitators through a statewide initiative titled “Operation Crackdown 1.0.” Led by Director Shikha Goel, the operation resulted in the arrest of 208 individuals across the state. The crackdown specifically targeted “mule account” holders—individuals who lend their bank accounts to cybercriminals for a commission. Shockingly, the arrested individuals include a diverse group of professionals such as software engineers, bank employees, lecturers, and students, highlighting how deeply these illegal networks have penetrated various sectors of society.
Investigations revealed that these accounts were used to facilitate financial frauds totaling approximately ₹100 crore across the country. The TGCSB deployed 137 police teams comprising 512 personnel to conduct simultaneous raids on 137 bank branches. Through rigorous data analysis from the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal, officials identified 1,888 mule accounts linked to over 9,451 cases nationwide. The arrested bank employees, representing institutions like the Bank of Maharashtra and Jubilee Hills Merchant Co-operative Bank, were found to have bypassed mandatory KYC norms to help criminals open these fraudulent accounts.
The police seized 63 mobile phones, 208 bank passbooks, and numerous checkbooks during the operation. Authorities found that many suspects were lured by a 5% commission to hand over their banking credentials, while others used forged documents to open accounts online. In one notable instance in Warangal, an individual was found utilizing the accounts of his own family members for cyber manipulations. Shikha Goel warned the public against sharing bank details for quick money, emphasizing that account holders are legally responsible for all transactions made through their names and will face severe legal consequences for aiding cybercrime.
