Pune, Aug 1 (IANS) In a major crackdown on the financial networks supporting cybercrime, Pune Police have arrested 152 accused and registered cases against 132 mule account holders under the ongoing ‘Operation Mule Hunt’ campaign. The drive is being carried out jointly by Pune Police and Maharashtra Cyber to dismantle the banking channels used by cyber fraudsters to move and conceal illegally obtained funds.
According to police officials, cybercriminals use mule bank accounts to transfer and launder money collected through online frauds. The campaign aims to identify and disrupt these financial networks, thereby curbing cybercrime at its roots.
Police said action is currently underway on 1,705 notices received from other states through the Coordination Portal. At the same time, Pune Police have issued 2,099 notices to mule account holders in other states. During the investigation, accused persons have been arrested from Pune, Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar and several other states, while charge sheets have already been filed in multiple cases.
Investigators are conducting detailed examinations of bank transactions, mobile call records, digital payment trails and other technical evidence linked to cybercrime operations.
Officials warned that individuals who knowingly provide their bank accounts, ATM cards, SIM cards or other documents to cybercriminals in exchange for money or other benefits will also face legal action as co-accused.
Pune Police have urged citizens not to share their bank account details, ATM cards, cheque books, net banking credentials, OTPs, SIM cards, mobile numbers, email IDs, Aadhaar or PAN information with unknown persons. The police also appealed to the public to immediately report anyone assisting cybercriminals to the nearest police station or cyber police unit.
As part of its preventive efforts, Pune Police said it has conducted 1,142 cyber awareness programmes across the city in 2026, reaching nearly 300,000 people with cyber safety messages. Moreover, under the ‘Campus Connect Safe Horizon’ initiative, awareness campaigns are being organised in schools, colleges, IT companies, housing societies and government offices to strengthen public awareness against cyber fraud.
–IANS
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