Cyberabad Police Bust Interstate Mule Account Network; Six Held
HYDERABAD: Cyberabad Cyber Crime Police have arrested six members of an interstate syndicate that supplied bank accounts, cheque books and SIM cards to operators of online trading scams active across several States.
Police registered the case under Sections 318(4), 319(2), 336(3), 338, 340(2) read with 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Section 66D of the Information Technology Act, 2000.
Modus operandi explained
Investigators said the network procured bank accounts and SIM cards, transferred them to fraudsters, and enabled financial trafficking through mule accounts. Victims were induced to deposit money into these accounts after being shown fabricated profit statements and fake trading dashboards.
Roles of the arrested members
Police identified the arrested as:
Venigalla Srinivas Rao, 52, NTR district
Chitta Ganesh, 45, West Godavari district
Gandluru Naveen Kumar Reddy, 33, Anantapur district
Sathuri Rajesh, 41, Medchal district
Maddiralla Sudheer, 50, Krishna district
Mohammad Ashraf, 39, Hyderabad
According to police, Srinivas Rao and Ganesh sourced bank accounts and SIM cards, while Naveen Kumar Reddy identified account holders and coordinated onboarding and documentation.
Forensic analysis of seized mobile phones revealed 60 cheque leaf images and digital material connecting the racket to about 400 cyber fraud cases nationwide, including three cases within Cyberabad limits.
The accounts were supplied to Sathuri Rajesh, who earned ₹1 lakh per ₹1 crore transaction volume and ₹10,000 per account. Rajesh later passed the accounts to Maddiralla Sudheer and Mohammad Ashraf for a 2% commission.
Police said Sudheer shared select credentials with another person for 5% commission, while Ashraf transmitted several accounts through the Telegram ID “Sybo_pay” to overseas handlers.
Loss and seizures
Police estimated the property lost at ₹1,09,50,000. Seized material includes:
7 mobile phones
3 cheque books
11 SIM cards
Investigation continues
Police said the six arrested persons will be taken into custody for further interrogation. Efforts are underway to trace the absconding members of the network.
The investigation is being carried out by Inspectors G. Vijay Kumar, Durga, D. Palavelli, and SI Sandeep, under the supervision of ACP A. Ravindra Reddy, and overall supervision of DCP YVS Sudheendra, Cyber Crimes, Cyberabad.
Public advisory issued
Cyberabad Police cautioned the public against renting or sharing bank accounts, ATM cards, SIM cards or OTPs. Officials said lending financial identities is a criminal act that attracts stringent legal action.
