Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Police’s special anti-cybercrime drive, ‘Operation Cyber Kavach’, is continuing across the state with intensified action against mule or benami bank accounts used in cyber fraud.
Launched on the directions of Director General of Police (DGP) Yogesh Bahadur Khurania, the operation is being carried out by District Cyber Crime Units under the direct supervision of district Superintendents of Police (SPs) and Deputy Commissioners of Police (DCPs).
The operation focuses on identifying mule bank accounts used to route fraudulent money in cybercrime cases and taking strict legal action against account holders and their associates.
According to the police, a total of 32,932 mule or benami bank accounts have been verified across Odisha so far under the campaign. As part of the crackdown, police have registered 1,096 cybercrime cases related to mule bank accounts.
Additionally, 34 cases involving withdrawal of fraud money through ATMs, 36 cases related to withdrawals through cheques and 23 cases linked to fake SIM cards or point-of-sale (PoS) devices have been registered.
So far, 331 accused persons have been arrested in connection with the cases. Besides, legal notices have been issued to 6,723 suspected account holders and their helpers in connection with 185 previously registered FIRs.
District-wise actions have also been carried out across the state. Puri district police checked one benami account, registered one case and arrested one accused. Sundargarh police checked 19 accounts, registered one case and issued notice to one person. Jharsuguda police registered one case and issued notices to two persons, while Rourkela police checked 13 accounts, registered one cheque withdrawal case and issued notice to one person.
In other districts, Cuttack police checked eight accounts, while Nayagarh police verified 238 accounts and issued notices to 14 persons. Subarnapur police checked 42 accounts, Balasore 41, and Bhadrak 66. Mayurbhanj police checked 11 accounts and issued notices to 11 persons, while Bhubaneswar Urban Police District checked 23 accounts and Cuttack UPD two accounts.
Similarly, Berhampur police checked eight accounts and issued notices to 28 persons in connection with an old FIR. Boudh and Kandhamal police checked three accounts each and issued notices to three persons each. Kalahandi police verified 89 accounts and issued notices to 18 persons, while Koraput police checked 77 accounts, Malkangiri three, and Nuapada 66 accounts.
Odisha Police said it remains committed to ensuring the security of digital transactions for citizens. DGP Khurania said the campaign will be further intensified in the coming days to curb cybercrime and make the state safer in the digital space.
