Bhubaneswar: In a massive drive against cybercrime, the Odisha Police’s “Operation Cyber Kavach” has verified 3,625 mule (benami) bank accounts and arrested 187 accused across the state in the past 10 days. The operation, directed by Odisha DGP Yogesh Bahadur Khurania, is being executed by the District Cyber Crime Units under the supervision of district SPs and DCPs, with coordination by the Cyber Crime Unit of the CID Crime Branch.
The special drive aims to dismantle the financial infrastructure that supports cybercriminal activities, ensuring the security of digital transactions for citizens. So far, the police have registered 275 cases related to mule accounts, 8 cases related to cheque withdrawals, and 7 cases involving fake SIM PoS verifications. Additionally, 1,075 suspected aides and account holders have been served legal notices, including 84 pending FIRs.
District-wise, Jagatsinghpur police verified 20 anonymous accounts and registered one cybercrime case. Jajpur police examined 44 accounts, registered four cases, and issued notices to 47 individuals. Kendrapara authorities checked 88 accounts, registered five cases, and issued notices to 67 individuals. Khordha police verified 98 accounts, registered six cases, and issued notices to two people.
In Puri, 71 mule accounts were checked, four cases related to benami accounts and one cheque bounce case were registered, six accused were arrested, and notices were issued to 15 individuals. Similar operations are underway in over 30 districts including Balangir, Jharsuguda, Keonjhar, Rourkela, Bhadrak, Mayurbhanj, UPD Bhubaneswar, Berhampur, Gajapati, Ganjam, Angul, Kalahandi, Koraput, Nuapada, Rayagada, Cuttack, Nayagarh, Bargarh, Sambalpur, Sundargarh, Boudh, Kandhamal, Malkangiri, Nabarangpur, Deogarh, and Dhenkanal.
DGP Khurania said the operation would be intensified in the coming days to ensure Odisha becomes a cybercrime-free state, emphasizing the police’s commitment to secure digital transactions for citizens.
