Gujarat Police has launched one of its biggest cybercrime crackdowns under “Operation Mule Hunt 1.0”, exposing a massive online fraud network worth around ₹2,289 crore, officials said.
The statewide operation was conducted by the Cyber Centre of Excellence (CCoE) along with multiple police units, targeting so-called mule bank accounts,accounts used by cybercriminals to receive and transfer money obtained through online scams. These accounts often act as the financial backbone of fraud networks, helping criminals hide the origin of illegal funds.
According to officials, the operation resulted in 565 FIRs, 638 arrests, and action against 913 mule accounts, while investigators also linked more than 4,000 cybercrime cases to the network. The crackdown was carried out using intelligence inputs from national cybercrime platforms and real-time data shared by banks.
Police said the operation focused on breaking the financial chain of cyber fraud rather than only arresting individual scammers. Investigators tracked suspicious transactions across multiple states and identified how fraud money was being layered through different accounts to avoid detection.
Officials explained that mule accounts are often opened by individuals who either knowingly rent out their banking details for commissions or unknowingly become part of fraud chains. These accounts are then used for scams such as fake investment schemes, UPI fraud, digital arrest scams, and phishing attacks.
As part of the operation, police coordinated with banking institutions and cyber monitoring systems to freeze suspicious accounts and block further illegal transfers. Authorities also reported a significant drop in suspicious cheque withdrawals and ATM transactions linked to fraud networks after the crackdown.
The Gujarat government described the operation as a data-driven and coordinated effort involving district police, cyber experts, and financial institutions. Officials said the success of the drive shows how targeting financial infrastructure can severely disrupt organised cybercrime networks.
Further action is expected as investigations continue into remaining suspects and linked accounts across different states. Police have also indicated that follow-up operations will be launched to strengthen cyber surveillance and prevent the reuse of mule accounts.
Officials said “Operation Mule Hunt 1.0” marks a major step in India’s fight against digital financial crime and sends a strong warning to cyber fraud syndicates operating across the country.
