Gujarat's Sabarkantha Cyber Crime Police arrested Dipesh Dabgar, a resident of Ramgath Road, Aspur taluka in Dungarpur district, Rajasthan, on 27 October 2026, after he had evaded law enforcement for nearly three months in a cyber fraud case involving transactions worth over ₹5 crore. The arrest was made as part of Operation Mule Hunt, Gujarat Police's ongoing crackdown on mule bank accounts used to launder money from online fraud.

How the Fraud Was Carried Out

According to investigators, members of an alleged cyber syndicate opened accounts across multiple banks, then collected bank account credentials, ATM cards, and SIM card details from account holders. These accounts were then used as conduits to route proceeds from online fraud — a method commonly known as 'mule banking.' Victims were targeted through online social media platforms and spanned multiple states.

In total, ₹5,04,36,296 was routed through the fraud network, according to investigators. Of this, ₹31,99,430 was traced to bank accounts identified during the investigation. The syndicate allegedly cheated 73 victims, all of whom had registered complaints on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (NCCRP).

The Case and Arrest

The case was originally registered on 30 June at the Himmatnagar Cyber Crime Police Station. Following a technical analysis of digital trails, a police team travelled to Rajasthan to apprehend Dabgar, who had been absconding for three months. The operation was conducted under the directions of senior officials. Himmatnagar Divisional Police Officer A.K. Patel supervised the investigation, while Police Inspector D.N. Vasava led the field team.

What Is Operation Mule Hunt

Operation Mule Hunt is a Gujarat Police initiative specifically designed to detect and dismantle cyber fraud networks that rely on mule bank accounts — accounts opened or purchased to receive, transfer, and launder illegally obtained funds. Its first phase, Operation Mule Hunt 1.0, ran as a statewide drive from 1 to 31 December 2025, yielding 565 FIRs, 638 arrests, and action against 913 mule accounts. Cyber fraud worth ₹2,289 crore was identified in that phase alone.

The operation is coordinated through the Gujarat Police Cyber Centre of Excellence, with inputs from the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), the NCCRP, and the national cybercrime helpline 1930.

Broader Context

Mule account-based fraud has emerged as one of the fastest-growing vectors of financial crime in India, with law enforcement agencies across states flagging a sharp rise in complaints on the NCCRP in recent years. This arrest marks a continued push by Gujarat Police to pursue suspects beyond state borders — a critical shift, as cybercrime networks are typically dispersed across multiple jurisdictions to complicate investigation. The case also underscores the growing reliance on technical analysis and inter-state coordination to trace and arrest suspects who exploit geographic distance as cover.