Delhi Police arrest 3 in ₹97,708 cyber fraud via mule bank account
Synopsis
A labourer and two college students in Delhi were arrested for allegedly channelling ₹97,708 cheated from a Tamil Nadu man through a mule bank account — with one accused taking a 10% cut for arranging the account. The case highlights how cyber fraud networks recruit everyday individuals to launder proceeds across state lines.
Key Takeaways
Delhi Police arrested three people on 20 September 2026 in connection with a ₹97,708 cyber-fraud case.
The victim, a Tamil Nadu resident, was allegedly cheated under the pretext of a Government Scholarship Scheme .
Accused Kunal Kumar (23, labourer) held the mule bank account; approximately ₹44,500 was withdrawn from it.
Manish Kumar (22, college student) allegedly arranged mule accounts for co-accused Jeet alias Nikhil (22) in exchange for a 10% commission .
Police recovered three mobile phones and ₹20,000 cash ; an FIR was registered under BNS Sections 112(2) and 318(4) .
Investigation is ongoing to trace remaining associates and recover outstanding proceeds of crime.
Delhi Police on Sunday, 20 September 2026 arrested three individuals — including a labourer and two college students — in connection with a cyber-fraud case in which a Tamil Nadu resident was allegedly cheated of ₹97,708 through a fake government scholarship scheme. The accused allegedly operated a mule bank account to receive and route the proceeds of the fraud.
How the Fraud Unfolded
The case came to light after the victim, a resident of Tamil Nadu, filed a complaint alleging he had been duped of ₹97,708 on the pretext of receiving benefits under the Government Scholarship Scheme. Investigators traced the cheated amount to a mule bank account held in the name of Kunal Kumar, 23, a labourer, registered and operated in Delhi's East District. The Cyber Police Station, East District, took up the investigation to identify those facilitating the account and to disrupt the financial chain handling the fraud proceeds.
The Money Trail and Accused Roles
Police established that approximately ₹44,500 had been withdrawn from Kunal Kumar's account, with a portion subsequently transferred to Manish Kumar, 22, a college student. Further investigation revealed that Manish Kumar allegedly arranged mule bank accounts for another accused, Jeet alias Nikhil, also 22 and a college student. According to investigators, Manish Kumar reportedly received a 10 per cent commission on the cheated amount in exchange for providing the mule account and personally withdrew money transferred from Kunal Kumar's account.
The Investigation Team and Legal Action
A dedicated team from PS Cyber, East District was constituted under the leadership of Inspector Pawan, SHO/PS Cyber, East District, and under the supervision of ACP Operations Amandeep Kaur. The team comprised Sub-Inspectors Bhanu Singh and Azad, and Head Constables Ajay, Parveen, and Yogesh, who conducted a detailed analysis of the financial transactions and digital trail linked to the fraud. An FIR was registered under Sections 112(2) and 318(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). During the investigation, authorities recovered three mobile phones and ₹20,000 in cash.
Arrests and What Comes Next
All three accused — Kunal Kumar, Manish Kumar, and Jeet alias Nikhil — have since been arrested. Police said further investigation is in progress to trace remaining associates, establish the complete money trail, and recover the remaining proceeds of crime. This case is part of a broader pattern of scholarship-scheme fraud targeting individuals across state lines, with mule bank accounts used specifically to obscure the origin and movement of cheated funds.
Point of View
Insulating the principal fraudsters from direct exposure. A 10% cut on ₹97,708 is a negligible sum for the masterminds but a meaningful incentive for someone earning daily wages. Delhi Police's East District team deserves credit for tracing the financial trail across state lines, but the arrest of low-rung facilitators rarely dismantles the fraud network itself — the principals remain at large. Sustained investigation into the full money trail, not just the mule layer, is the real test.
NationPress
20 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Delhi cyber fraud case involving mule bank accounts?
Delhi Police arrested three individuals — a labourer and two college students — on 20 September 2026 for allegedly operating a mule bank account to receive and route ₹97,708 cheated from a Tamil Nadu resident. The victim was duped under the pretext of a Government Scholarship Scheme.
Who are the accused arrested in the Delhi cyber fraud case?
The three accused are Kunal Kumar (23, labourer), who held the mule bank account; Manish Kumar (22, college student), who allegedly arranged mule accounts for a commission; and Jeet alias Nikhil (22, college student), for whom Manish Kumar reportedly arranged the account.
What is a mule bank account and why is it used in cyber fraud?
A mule bank account is a legitimate bank account that is knowingly or unknowingly used to receive and forward proceeds of fraud, making it harder for investigators to trace the origin of stolen funds. Fraudsters typically recruit third parties — often through small commissions — to provide access to their accounts, creating distance between the perpetrators and the crime.
What charges have been filed against the accused?
An FIR has been registered under Sections 112(2) and 318(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) at the Cyber Police Station, East District, Delhi. Three mobile phones and ₹20,000 in cash were also recovered during the investigation.
Is the Delhi cyber fraud investigation complete?
No — police have confirmed that further investigation is underway to trace remaining associates, establish the full money trail, and recover the outstanding proceeds of crime. All three immediate accused have been arrested, but the principal fraudsters behind the scheme remain unidentified.
