Bhubaneswar, March 10: The Central Range Police launched a successful operation under the name “Cyber-KAVACH” to combat cyber financial fraud. During the operation, a total of 9,782 suspected mule bank accounts were verified across the Central Range, as confirmed by Dr. Satyajit Naik, Inspector General of Police.
The extensive verification process focused on identifying and tracking bank accounts linked to cyber fraud activities. As a result, 339 new cases were filed, 1,366 notices were served to account holders and relevant individuals, and 31 accused persons were arrested. Additionally, 26 cases were found to be connected to previously registered FIRs, which has assisted investigators in uncovering wider cyber-fraud networks.
The operation, conducted from February 13 to March 9, 2026, spanned seven districts—Puri, Cuttack, Khordha, Jajpur, Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur, and Nayagarh. It aimed to curb cyber financial fraud, identify mule bank accounts, and uncover fraudulent SIM issuance networks.
Investigations revealed that many of the mule accounts had interstate linkages, with operations spanning multiple states, highlighting the scale of the cyber fraud network. In response, financial disruption measures were put in place, including the blocking or freezing of ₹50,60,280 involved in suspicious transactions.
Furthermore, a detailed review of cash-out channels led to the verification of 1,175 ATM withdrawals and 159 cheque withdrawals associated with fraudulent accounts. Timely coordination with banks and financial institutions resulted in the successful blocking of ₹32,33,327 from ATM withdrawals and ₹13,94,124 from cheque transactions.
The operation also targeted Point-of-Sale (PoS) agents suspected of issuing SIM cards in bulk through fraudulent means. A total of 20 PoS outlets were inspected, with seven cases registered and five notices issued. Several transactions are still under investigation.
The Central Range Police remain committed to intensifying their efforts against cybercriminal networks and encourage citizens to stay vigilant. Victims of cyber financial fraud are urged to report incidents immediately by dialing 1930 or through the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal.
