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10 arrested for renting bank accounts to cyber fraudsters for illegal transactions on commission
Cyber Crime police station SHO Inspector Eram Rizvi said the case came to light after information was received from the I4C portal of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs.
Investigations revealed that fraud money was routed through multiple layers to avoid detection and, in some cases, converted into cryptocurrency to further obscure the trail, said police. (Representative Image)
The Cyber Crime Cell has arrested 10 persons in connection with allowing their bank accounts to be used for illegal transfers, withdrawals and layering of fraud money in return for commission, the Chandigarh Police said on Monday.
DSP (Cyber Crime) A Venkatesh said, “The arrests were made under ‘Operation Mule Hunt’ by the Chandigarh Cyber Crime police station, exposing a well-organised network facilitating digital arrest scams and part-time job frauds.”
Cyber Crime police station SHO Inspector Eram Rizvi said the case came to light after information was received from the I4C portal of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs. “Analysis revealed that several bank accounts operating in Chandigarh were linked to fraud complaints registered on the NCRP/I4C portal in other states. These accounts were being used as mule accounts to route stolen money generated through cyber fraud. The accused allegedly provided their bank accounts to unidentified handlers, who used them for illegal transfers, cheque withdrawals and multi-layered transactions to conceal the origin of fraud proceeds. In return, the account holders were paid commission,” Rizvi said.
The accused were arrested in four FIRs — Nos. 11, 12 and 13 of 2026 and 109, dated September 8, 2025 — registered under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) related to organised crime and cheating, police said.
In FIR number 11, Ritik (22) and Rythem (20), both residents of Mauli Jagran, along with Akash (25) from Mohali, were found to be operating mule bank accounts, police said.
During the investigation, Ritik admitted that unidentified persons transferred large sums of money into his account, which he later converted into cryptocurrency using the Binance platform before further transfers, police said.
Akash confessed that he allowed his account to be used on the assurance that it was for crypto-related transactions and received Rs 10,000 in return, police said.
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Police said the trio acted in a criminal conspiracy to receive knowingly, lay, and conceal the proceeds of cyber fraud.
In FIR number 12, police said, Mohamad Danish (22) of Mauli Jagran, Charandas (20) of Sector 25 and Archit (25) of Sector 41 B admitted that they “knowingly allowed their bank accounts to be used for first-layer transfers and subsequent withdrawals in exchange for commission”. Police said their acts constituted serious financial and cyber crimes.
Similarly, in FIR number 13, police said, Mohammad Toshik (26) of Sector 45, Burail, and Dilpreet Singh (21) of Faida Nizampur confessed that unidentified persons deposited large amounts into their accounts, which they later withdrew through cheques for a cut. Police said.
In FIR number 109 of 2025, police said, accused Ankit (23) from Jagatpura, Mohali, and Rohan Dubay of Chandigarh were found to be operating similar mule accounts, facilitating illegal withdrawals and fund transfers of fraud proceeds.
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SP (Cyber Crime) Geetanjali Khandelwal said the accused acted in a criminal conspiracy to knowingly receive, withdraw, layer, and conceal the proceeds of cyber fraud.
Investigations revealed that fraud money was routed through multiple layers to avoid detection and, in some cases, converted into cryptocurrency to further obscure the trail, said police.
Meanwhile, further investigation is underway to trace the main handlers and beneficiaries behind the fraud network, police added.
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