Operation Cyber Kavach Odisha Police: Statewide Crackdown on Mule Bank Accounts

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

Odisha Police launched Operation Cyber Kavach to curb cyber fraud across the state.
Over 34,101 mule or benami bank accounts have been verified so far.
Police registered 1,111 cybercrime cases and arrested 336 accused persons during the operation.

Bhubaneswar: The Operation Cyber Kavach Odisha Police campaign has been launched as a major statewide initiative to combat rising cybercrime and financial fraud. The special drive focuses on identifying and taking action against mule or benami bank accounts used by cybercriminal networks to transfer or withdraw fraudulently obtained money.

The operation is being conducted under the direction of Yogesh Bahadur Khurania and is monitored at the district level by Superintendents of Police (SPs) and Deputy Commissioners of Police (DCPs).

The data suggests law enforcement agencies are increasingly targeting the financial channels used in cyber fraud rather than only focusing on individual offenders.

Operation Cyber Kavach Odisha Police: Key Findings So Far

According to official figures released by the police department, the campaign has uncovered a large network of suspicious accounts.

Authorities have so far:

Verified 34,101 mule or benami bank accounts
Registered 1,111 cybercrime cases linked to such accounts
Filed 34 cases involving ATM withdrawals
Registered 36 cases related to cheque withdrawals
Identified 23 cases involving fake SIM cards or PoS devices

Police have also arrested 336 accused individuals involved in operating or assisting these fraudulent financial channels.

Additionally, legal notices have been issued to 6,893 suspected account holders and associates connected to 186 previously registered FIRs.

District Wise Action Under Operation Cyber Kavach

Several districts across Odisha have reported significant enforcement activity during the operation.

For example:

Balangir police verified 249 benami accounts and issued notices to 27 individuals
Kendujhar police registered six cases and arrested two persons
Rourkela police verified 25 accounts and registered seven cases

Other districts such as Nayagarh, Subarnapur, Bhadrak and Mayurbhanj also conducted verification drives and issued legal notices to suspected individuals.

Action in Urban Police Districts

Urban policing units have also played a key role in the campaign.

Bhubaneswar Urban Police District verified 177 benami accounts
Cuttack Urban Police District verified 10 accounts and issued notices to eight individuals

Other districts including Ganjam, Rayagada, Kalahandi and Gajapati have also reported account verifications, arrests and legal notices.

Why Mule Accounts Are a Major Cybercrime Tool

Mule accounts are bank accounts used by fraudsters to move stolen money without revealing their identity.

Cybercriminals often recruit individuals to open accounts in exchange for small payments. These accounts are then used to:

Receive funds from online scams
Withdraw cash through ATMs or transfers
Move money across multiple accounts to avoid detection

What investigators say is that dismantling these financial channels is crucial to reducing online fraud networks.

Odisha Police Plan to Intensify the Campaign

Odisha Police officials say Operation Cyber Kavach will continue across the state in the coming months.

Also Read | Odisha Road Accident Deaths Data: 53,551 Lives Lost in 10 Years

The goal is to strengthen digital financial security and prevent cybercriminals from exploiting bank accounts for fraudulent activities.

DGP Khurania reiterated that the campaign is part of a broader strategy to build a cybercrime free Odisha and ensure safer digital transactions for citizens.

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