Over 2,700 Mule Accounts Verified, 52 Arrested in Central Range Police’s ‘Cyber–KAVACH’ Drive
Cuttack: The Central Range Police has carried out an intensive special drive titled “Cyber–KAVACH” from February 13 to February 24, 2026, to curb cyber financial fraud and dismantle mule bank account networks across multiple districts. The operation covered Puri, Cuttack, Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur, Jajpur, Khordha, and Nayagarh districts, focusing on verification of suspicious accounts, arrests, financial tracking, and preventive enforcement.
During the drive, police verified over 2,763 suspected mule bank accounts and registered more than 204 cases. At least 52 persons have been arrested in connection with cyber fraud activities. Officials said the crackdown also targeted fraudulent SIM issuance and illegal ATM and cheque withdrawals linked to cybercrime networks.
In Puri district, 213 accounts were verified and 46 cases registered, leading to seven arrests. Accounts were found to be linked to several states including Bihar, Delhi, Haryana, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, and Karnataka. In Cuttack, 528 accounts were verified, 62 cases registered, and 21 accused arrested, while 26 accounts were found non-suspicious. Kendrapara saw verification of 504 accounts and registration of 42 cases, with 247 notices served and hundreds of transactions detected. All the accounts remain under investigation.
Similarly, 260 accounts were verified in Jagatsinghpur, resulting in nine cases and 15 arrests. In Jajpur, police verified 750 accounts, registered 16 cases, froze 121 accounts, and served 169 notices. In Khordha, 424 accounts were verified and 28 cases registered, while in Nayagarh, 84 accounts were checked, one case registered, and six persons arrested. Authorities also detected instances where bank accounts were opened on commission for fraudulent use.
The drive further included action against fraudulent SIM issuance. Multiple Point of Sale outlets in Khordha, Jajpur, and Nayagarh are under verification for allegedly issuing SIM cards in bulk through illegal means. In Cuttack, a case was registered at Maniabandha Police Station in connection with SIM misuse linked to cyber fraud.
Police also investigated ATM and cheque withdrawal frauds. In Khordha, 38 ATM withdrawals were verified, four cases registered, six accused arrested, and ₹3,52,977 recovered. In Nayagarh, seven ATM withdrawal cases were verified, leading to five cases and three arrests. In cheque-related frauds, cases were registered in Puri, Khordha, and Nayagarh, with arrests made and substantial recoveries, including ₹13,94,124 in Khordha.
Officials stated that the “Cyber–KAVACH” drive has helped detect inter-state fraud networks, freeze suspicious accounts, recover defrauded money, and initiate action against facilitators enabling cybercrime. The Central Range Police has urged citizens not to share bank details, OTPs, or ATM PINs and to avoid opening accounts for commission. Victims of cyber fraud have been advised to immediately dial 1930 or report incidents through the national cybercrime portal.
Police reiterated that the drive will continue with sustained enforcement and awareness measures to safeguard citizens from cyber fraud and financial crimes.
