The Telangana police initiated ‘Operation Crackdown’ on Wednesday to dismantle the cybercrime network in the state. Led by the Telangana Cyber Security Bureau (TGCSB), this operation aims to target crime-criminal networks and the cybercrime ecosystem across the state. The first phase of the operation began in 16 districts/units, focusing on mule bank accounts.
TGCSB’s data analysis revealed that in 2025, a total of 4,775 mule accounts were active in the state. During the current operation, 1,888 suspected mule accounts in 137 bank branches across 16 districts/units were scrutinized. These accounts were found to be associated with 9,431 crime links nationwide, including 782 in Telangana.
A total of 137 police teams, comprising 512 officers/personnel, participated in the coordinated drive. They inspected 137 bank branches, gathering KYC details of suspected mule account holders. The ongoing verification process has uncovered multiple mule accounts in some branches, hinting at potential collusion among bank staff and an organized network of agents.
In one instance, a single account in Sultan Bazar, Hyderabad, was linked to 496 crime complaints across various jurisdictions. Similarly, in Suryapet district, 298 accounts across multiple jurisdictions were identified in four bank branches. The police also noted that smaller banks lacking RTGS capabilities were exploiting the systems of national banks for fund transfers, facilitating cybercriminal activities.
The ‘Operation Crackdown’ will persist with rigorous verification, financial trail analysis, profiling of account holders, and legal actions against those involved in cybercrimes.
