Bhubaneswar, March 17: The Odisha Police has intensified its crackdown on cybercrime and financial fraud, with its state-wide special drive “Operation Cyber Kavach” yielding significant results. The operation, conducted from February 13 to March 12, targeted mule bank accounts and fake SIM networks—key facilitators of cyber fraud.

According to DGP Yogesh Bahadur Khurania, a total of 39,714 mule bank accounts were verified during the drive. Police arrested 379 accused persons, including 349 linked to mule accounts, along with others involved in fake SIM usage, ATM withdrawals, and cheque-related fraud. Notices were also issued to 7,549 suspected individuals.

The crackdown covered multiple districts, including Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Sambalpur, and Ganjam, focusing on illegal activities such as online betting, hawala transactions, and cryptocurrency fraud. Several inter-state gangs were busted, and numerous SIM cards, ATM cards, and digital devices were seized.

The operation was launched following a high-level review meeting chaired by the DGP on February 11, with district SPs leading coordinated raids across the state.