Bhubaneswar: In a bid to safeguard citizens from the rising menace of cybercrime, the Odisha Police continue their statewide special operation named ‘Operation Cyber Kavach’.
Launched under the directives of Director General of Police (DGP) YB Khurania, the initiative targets mule (benami) bank accounts and their facilitators, who play a crucial role in laundering proceeds from online scams such as digital arrest frauds, investment rackets, and phishing attacks.
District Cyber Crime Units, operating under the direct supervision of District Superintendents of Police (SPs) and Deputy Commissioners of Police (DCPs), are spearheading the drive. The operation focuses on identifying and freezing suspicious accounts used to route illicit funds, while pursuing strict legal action against those involved.
As per the latest updates from the Odisha Police, a staggering 31,498 mule/benami bank accounts have been scrutinized across the state so far. This massive verification effort has led to the registration of 1,090 cases linked to mule bank accounts, 34 cases involving ATM withdrawals, 35 cases related to cheque withdrawals, and 23 cases concerning fake SIM or Point-of-Sale (PoS) devices.
Police have arrested 328 accused individuals and issued legal notices to 6,532 suspected account holders and accomplices connected to 183 new and old First Information Reports (FIRs).The crackdown has shown notable results in various districts. In Puri, police checked 1 benami account, registered 1 case, and arrested 3 accused. Rourkela saw 22 accounts verified, with 3 mule-related cases and 1 cheque withdrawal case registered, alongside notices to 3 individuals.
Bhubaneswar (Urban Police District) registered a case involving 12 benami accounts, leading to 1 arrest and notices to 4 people. Cuttack (UPD) handled a cheque cashing case. Other districts have also contributed significantly: Nayagarh verified 82 accounts and issued notices to 30; Balangir checked 6; Subarnapur 80; Balasore 33; Bhadrak 26; Mayurbhanj 20 (notices to 18); Berhampur 80 (notices to 80 linked to 2 old FIRs); Boudh 7 (notices to 7); Ganjam 11; Kalahandi 124 (notices to 4); Koraput 23; Malkangiri 6; and Nuapada 119.
Recent reports indicate the operation’s momentum, with thousands more accounts verified in phases, hundreds arrested, and crores in fraudulent transactions traced and frozen in various ranges. DGP YB Khurania reaffirmed Odisha Police’s unwavering commitment to protecting digital transactions and ensuring a secure online environment for residents. He stated that the campaign will be further intensified in the coming days, with enhanced coordination and proactive measures to make Odisha truly cyber-crime-free.
