Gujarat Police's Cyber Centre of Excellence (CCoE) has arrested 19 people across three separate investigations under Operation Mule Hunt 2.0, dismantling alleged cyber fraud networks that used mule bank accounts, fake business entities, and corporate accounts to launder proceeds linked to more than ₹330 crore across multiple states. The arrests were announced on 11 July and span operations in Gandhinagar, Vadodara, Ahmedabad, and Surat.

First Investigation: Vadodara Mule Account Racket

In the first probe, police made six fresh arrests across three FIRs, bringing the total number of accused in the case to eight. The four newly arrested individuals — Toufiq Ahmed Rathod, Aftab Saiyed, Hasnain alias Shadab Pathan, and Arkan Shaikh, all residents of Vadodara — allegedly collected mule bank accounts and circulated them through the network before forwarding them to other accused, including absconding suspects.

Verification on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (NCCRP) linked the recovered accounts to 101 acknowledgement numbers and 21 FIRs across different states, with alleged cyber fraud exceeding ₹46 crore. Four mobile phones were seized.

A separate accused in the same investigation, Sagar Amrutiya of Vastral, Ahmedabad, was arrested for allegedly opening and collecting mule accounts through fake business entities and forwarding them to an absconding accused. Investigators allege that fake firms — including one named Chamunda Communication — were used to open current accounts linked to 253 acknowledgement numbers and alleged cybercrimes worth more than ₹161 crore. Officials noted that Amrutiya had previously been arrested four times in criminal cases, allegedly operated from Dubai, and was reportedly planning to revive his network in Ahmedabad.

A third accused in this investigation, Abhilash Mishra of Vadodara, was arrested for allegedly making more than 10 of his bank accounts available to co-accused. According to police, Mishra opened the accounts while pursuing an MBA at Parul University. The accounts were linked to 28 acknowledgement numbers and eight FIRs across states, with alleged fraud exceeding ₹7.40 crore. Two mobile phones were seized.

Second Investigation: Interstate Corporate Account Syndicate

In the second probe, the CCoE arrested six alleged associates of an interstate syndicate accused of supplying corporate bank accounts with bulk transaction facilities. The accused — Ankurkumar Chaudhary of Mehsana district, Chetan Patel of Visnagar, Kirankumar Panchal, Suresh Rabari, and Rajkumar Rawal of Ahmedabad, and Akshaysinh Parmar of Mumbai — were reportedly arrested mid-operation, before any funds could allegedly be transferred.

Investigators allege that the first three accused procured corporate accounts and supplied them to a syndicate, while Rabari and Rawal verified accounts using APK files and login screen recordings. Parmar allegedly acted as an intermediary. Checks on the 1930 Portal and Samanvay Portal found 22 acknowledgement numbers linked to the recovered accounts, including six from Gujarat, with complaints involving approximately ₹1.5 crore. Two of the linked cases registered in Maharashtra involved alleged digital arrest fraud. Seven mobile phones were seized.

According to police, the group allegedly persuaded account holders to hand over Aadhaar and PAN details, cheque book images, ATM card photographs, and internet banking credentials in exchange for commissions, before installing APK files to facilitate remote access.

Third Investigation: Surat-Based Fake Firm Network Linked to ₹116 Crore

The third investigation led to the arrest of seven accused from Surat — Rakesh Pokal, Gautam Savani, Jaydeep alias Jayesh Savani, Mayur Tejani, Akshay Kathiriya, Mayur Savani, and Henil Narola — for allegedly creating fake firms and opening more than 18 bank accounts to supply cyber fraud operations.

Investigators allege that three partners ran the network from offices in Mota Varachha and Jahangirpura in Surat. Fake firms — including Pokaarchtex (OPC) Private Limited, Genram (OPC) Private Limited, and TRAN CHHAR TECH (OPC) Private Limited — were created to open accounts across multiple banks. Account kits and SIM cards were allegedly supplied to associates who received fraud proceeds before transferring or withdrawing funds for commissions.

Portal verification found 146 acknowledgement numbers nationwide, including 14 from Gujarat, linked to alleged fraud exceeding ₹116 crore across 21 states. Alleged offences include investment fraud, UPI-related fraud, deposit fraud, and trading fraud. Investigators noted that Gautam Savani had previously been arrested under Sections 307 and 302 of the Indian Penal Code. Thirteen mobile phones were seized.

What Comes Next

The CCoE has confirmed that investigations across all three cases are continuing. The scale of the network — spanning 21 states and more than ₹330 crore in alleged fraud — signals that Operation Mule Hunt 2.0 is far from over, with several accused still absconding. Further arrests are expected as investigators trace the financial trail upstream.