6 arrested for opening mule accounts in Chikkamagaluru

Chikkamagaluru police have arrested six persons on the charge of cheating several people by opening mule accounts in their names and using the accounts for illegal financial transactions.

The Cyber, Economic and Narcotics (CEN) police in Chikkamagaluru registered a complaint against six persons on July 10 based on a complaint by Ananda N., an autorickshaw driver in the city. In his complaint, Ananda stated that his relative, Prashanth, and others had, in 2023, insisted that he open an account with IndusInd Bank, promising him financial benefits.

Several people in his neighbourhood too had opened accounts based on the same promise. The accused allegedly collected their documents for the purpose of opening the accounts. However, none of them received a passbook, ATM card, or any other document from the bank.

Recently, they came to know that there had been huge transactions in the accounts opened in their names. In addition, the accounts featured in multiple cases related to illicit financial transactions.

In his complaint, Ananda identified the accused as Prashanth, Rahul, Sanjay, Aslam, Chethan, Sharath, and employees of IndusInd Bank.

On July 16, Chikkamagaluru Superintendent of Police Jitendra Kumar Dayama told The Hindu that they arrested the six persons named by the complainant. “We are investigating the transactions. They could be related to cricket betting, or some illegal activity. Similar cases were reported in Shivamogga and Bengaluru as well. Many people are involved in the crime,” he said.

He said police would also investigate whether the persons, whose identity was used to open the accounts, were aware of the financial transactions.