Chandigarh, March 20: The Punjab Police’s Cyber Crime Wing has dismantled a significant cybercrime syndicate. This group facilitated the transfer of fraudulently obtained funds to Chinese nationals by providing ‘mule accounts’—rented bank accounts. Authorities have arrested three individuals in connection with this case. The accused reportedly earned around 5 million rupees in commissions over the past two years through accounts opened with forged documents.
Punjab’s Director General of Police, Gaurav Yadav, announced that this operation was conducted under the directive of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, aiming to make the state free and secure from cyber crimes. The arrested individuals, Gurjeet Singh, Raman Rai, and Sukhdhev Singh, all hail from Jalalabad in the Fazilka district. They operated a fake firm called ‘Brother Traders’ from a rented room in Mohali’s Phase 5, providing cybercriminals with active bank accounts known as mule accounts.
Mule accounts are bank accounts used by criminals to transfer, conceal, or legitimize illegal funds. These accounts are often opened in the names of unsuspecting individuals using forged documents or are rented out under false pretenses. The syndicate assisted in transferring scam proceeds abroad or converting them into cryptocurrency. Investigations revealed that the accused communicated directly with Chinese nationals via the Telegram app, receiving profits in the form of USDT cryptocurrency for providing these accounts.
During the raid, police froze approximately 2 million rupees deposited in the gang’s associated bank accounts. Additionally, they seized 23 ATM cards, two laptops, seven mobile phones, five SIM cards, forged bank and KYC documents, 14 checkbooks, business certificates, and six seals. They also recovered cryptocurrency valued at 5,100 US dollars.
Special DGP Cyber Crime V. Neerja stated that this operation is part of a campaign against ‘domestic hotspots.’ Investigations revealed that these mule accounts were linked to 24 victims of cyber fraud. A total of 2.665 million rupees have been secured through legal measures. The police are currently examining the seized ATM cards to identify more victims and uncover the entire network.
An FIR was registered on March 17, 2026, under Section 318(4) and 61(2) of the Indian Penal Code and Section 66D of the Information Technology Act at the State Cyber Crime Police Station. The investigation is ongoing, and authorities are working to identify additional gang members and foreign connections.
Punjab Police urges the public to remain vigilant against cyber fraud. They advise against sharing bank accounts, ATM cards, SIM cards, or passbooks with anyone. Avoid clicking on suspicious calls, messages, or links, and do not transfer money without verification. If in doubt, contact the cyber helpline at 1930. The police are committed to taking strict action against cybercriminals to enhance digital security and ensure citizen safety in the state.
Arpit Soni has had a passion for journalism since the beginning. Now he has turned this hobby into his profession. Arpit, who is a resident of Udaipur, enjoys editing and writing news related to journalism. He has worked as a Senior Content Producer in several important roles at Bhaskar, Patrika, Pratahkal, Punjab Kesari, and Times. Arpit completed his schooling in Udaipur and Jaipur. He has been working in the media industry for more than 10 years, and his journey is still continuing. ✍️📚
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