Bhubaneswar: In a sweeping statewide crackdown on cyber fraud networks, the Odisha Police has intensified its efforts under a special drive titled ‘Operation Cyber Kavach’, aimed at dismantling mule bank account operations and the wider ecosystem supporting online financial crimes.
Launched under the direction of Director General of Police Yogesh Bahadur Khurania, the campaign is being executed by district cyber crime units under the direct supervision of Superintendents of Police and Deputy Commissioners of Police. The initiative focuses on identifying mule (benami) bank accounts used to channel proceeds of cyber fraud and taking stringent legal action against both account holders and facilitators.
Since the launch of ‘Operation Cyber Kavach’, police across the state have verified 21,162 mule bank accounts. The verification drive has resulted in the registration of 696 cyber cases linked to mule banking activities, 31 cases involving ATM cash withdrawals, 25 cases related to cheque withdrawals, and 15 cases concerning fake SIM cards and PoS misuse. So far, 273 accused persons have been arrested. Legal notices have also been issued to 4,860 suspected account holders and facilitators connected to newly detected cases as well as 145 previously registered FIRs.
The campaign has witnessed widespread action across districts. In Cuttack district, police verified 50 benami accounts and registered cases related to mule banking and fake SIM/PoS activities, issuing notices in both new and old cases. Jagatsinghpur and Jajpur districts also reported account verifications and case registrations, with Jajpur issuing notices to several individuals linked to ongoing investigations. Puri district police verified 189 benami accounts and registered six cases, while Bargarh district police not only verified accounts and registered cases but also arrested three accused persons.
In western Odisha, Balangir, Jharsuguda and Sambalpur districts undertook verification drives and registered fresh cases, with arrests reported in Sambalpur. Subarnapur registered a case and issued notices, while Keonjhar and Rourkela recorded multiple cases and arrests. Sundargarh, Balasore and Cuttack (UPD) also conducted verifications and initiated legal proceedings.
Ganjam district police registered a case and arrested four accused persons, while Angul district reported significant action, registering multiple mule bank cases along with cases involving ATM and cheque withdrawals, arresting one accused and issuing notices to dozens of individuals. Malkangiri, Kendrapara and Khordha districts continued verification and enforcement measures, with Khordha registering cases linked to ATM withdrawals.
In Nayagarh, police verified over 200 benami accounts and issued notices to a large number of suspects. Bhadrak and Mayurbhanj carried out extensive verifications, while Bhubaneswar (UPD) verified 378 benami accounts and issued notices linked to an earlier FIR. Berhampur police arrested an accused person connected to an old case, and Boudh district issued notices to all verified account holders. Kandhamal, Deogarh, Dhenkanal, Kalahandi, Koraput, Nabarangpur and Nuapada districts also undertook verification drives and issued notices as part of the campaign.
Reaffirming the force’s commitment to safeguarding digital transactions, DGP Khurania stated that the drive would be intensified in the coming days. With coordinated district-level enforcement and a focus on dismantling financial conduits used by cybercriminals, Operation Cyber Kavach is positioned as a decisive step towards building a cybercrime-free Odisha.
