Hyderabad police bust Rs 150 crore cyber fraud, 32 bank officers held The Hyderabad City Police executed a major operation, arresting 52 individuals across nine states in a pan-India cyber fraud case involving 32 banking officers, 15 mule account holders, and five middlemen. The crackdown, part of Operation Octopus 2, targeted a network that siphoned over Rs 150 crore from victims through 350 bank accounts linked to 850 cybercrime cases. Raids were conducted in Telangana, Maharashtra, Delhi, Rajasthan, West Bengal, Karnataka, Gujarat, Bihar, and Andhra Pradesh, with 16 special teams led by inspectors coordinating the arrests. The arrested bank employees, primarily from private institutions, included managers, relationship managers, KYC approvers, and clerks. Detailed records listed the banks involved: HDFC (one employee), Equitas Small Finance Bank (one), Karnataka Bank (two), Karur Vysya Bank (two), AU Small Finance Bank (two), Federal Bank (four), IDFC First Bank (four), Bandhan Bank (five), Bank of Baroda (five), and IndusInd Bank (six). Police alleged these individuals facilitated the creation of mule accounts, enabling the fraudulent transfers. During the operation, authorities seized 26 mobile phones, 21 shell company stamps, 14 cheque books, two pen drives, and one laptop. Police Commissioner VC Sajjanar emphasized strict action against cybercrime, stating, “Every guilty individual will face strict action. No one will be spared, regardless of position or influence.” He highlighted systemic failures in private banks, noting that lax KYC verification processes allowed cybercriminals to exploit vulnerabilities. Sajjanar also referenced the success of Operation Octopus 1, which led to the arrest of 117 people across 16 states.#hyderabad_police #hdfc #operation_octopus_2 #equitas_small_finance_bank #karnataka_bank
Hyderabad cops arrest 32 bank officials in Rs 150 crore mule accounts case Hyderabad police executed a multi-state operation to arrest 52 individuals, including 32 bank employees, in a cybercrime investigation linked to a Rs 150 crore scam. The operation, spanning nine states—Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Delhi, Rajasthan, West Bengal, Karnataka, Gujarat, and Bihar—targeted officials allegedly involved in opening mule accounts for cybercriminals. These accounts were used to siphon money from victims of online fraud. The arrested bank officials worked across 10 financial institutions, including public sector banks, and held roles such as relationship managers, KYC approvers, clerks, probationary officers, and field officers. Six of the 32 officials belonged to the same private bank, while others were middlemen who facilitated the creation of these accounts. The investigation revealed that the officials colluded with a cybercrime network to open accounts without verifying customer credentials, enabling fraudulent transactions. The operation followed leads from a previous interstate crackdown in February, which had identified 350 bank accounts linked to 850 cybercrime cases. During the recent raids, police recovered 26 mobile phones, 14 cheque books, 21 stamps, and two pen drives from the accused. A cybercrime officer stated that the accounts were opened despite knowledge of the companies being non-existent or staged during field inspections. Some officials did this to meet monthly account-opening targets, while others sought financial gain. Hyderabad police commissioner V C Sajjanar emphasized that the crackdown focused on apprehending bank officials who had conspired with cyber fraudsters.#mule_accounts #hyderabad_police #bank_officials #cybercrime_network #hyderabad_police_commissioner_v_c_sajjanar
Hyderabad Police Expose Bankers' Role in Major Cybercrime Network The Hyderabad police conducted a large-scale operation to dismantle a cybercrime network spanning multiple states, resulting in the arrest of 52 individuals, including several bank officials. The operation, named Operation Octopus-2.0, involved coordinated search efforts across nine states and targeted individuals who facilitated cybercriminal activities. Authorities emphasized that the arrested individuals were involved in orchestrating investment frauds, digital extortion schemes, and other cyber-related offenses. The operation revealed a systematic collaboration between financial institutions and criminals, with bank officials playing a central role in enabling illegal transactions. During the investigation, police identified 32 of the arrested individuals as bank officials, 15 as mule customers (individuals used to launder money), and five as mediators who acted as intermediaries between criminals and victims. The police stated that the bankers were instrumental in the crimes by opening fraudulent accounts for cybercriminals, which allowed the perpetrators to siphon funds from victims. These accounts were used to divert money extorted from unsuspecting individuals, with the police uncovering a total of 350 bank accounts linked to the network. The investigation revealed that these accounts were connected to over 850 cybercrime cases registered nationwide, with a total fraud amounting to Rs 150 crore (approximately $18.5 million) being traced through the network. Police highlighted that without access to bank accounts, cybercrime operations would not be feasible, underscoring the critical role of financial institutions in enabling such activities.#financial_institutions #hyderabad_police #bank_officials #operation_octopus_2_0 #cybercrime_network
Hyderabad Police Launch 'Operation Safe School' to Combat Tobacco Sales Near Schools The Hyderabad police initiated a major crackdown on the sale of tobacco products to minors under the guise of "Operation Safe School," deploying over 5,000 personnel to conduct undercover operations in areas near schools. The operation targeted pan shop owners and kirana shopkeepers selling nicotine-based products, including cigarettes and pan masala, to children, with actions taken under the provisions of the COTPA (Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act) and the Juvenile Justice Act. City Police Commissioner VC Sajjanar announced the operation, stating that teams conducted inspections at 589 pan shops across the city, with several instances of shop owners handing over tobacco products to minors being recorded on video. "We are initiating legal action against these individuals," Sajjanar said, emphasizing that the sale of tobacco within a 100-yard radius of schools is strictly prohibited. He also revealed plans to collaborate with the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) to relocate shops located within the prohibited zone in the future. Sajjanar highlighted the dangers of nicotine exposure, noting that it serves as a gateway to drug addiction. He reiterated that the operation was part of a broader effort to protect children from the harmful effects of tobacco, which he linked to long-term public health risks. The police teams included local officers, task force members, drug-sniffing dogs, and CAR (Crime and Riot) staff to ensure thorough enforcement. The operation marked a significant step in the city's efforts to curb underage tobacco consumption, with the police planning to conduct regular drives in the coming days.#hyderabad_police #vc_sajjanar #greater_hyderabad_municipal_corporation #operation_safe_school #cotpa
Hyderabad Police Prohibit Throwing Colours on Unwilling Persons During Holi Hyderabad Police Commissioner V. C. Sajjanar issued a directive on Monday emphasizing strict enforcement against individuals who throw coloured substances at unwilling people during Holi celebrations. The notification explicitly bans the act of spraying coloured water or other coloured materials on public roads, public places, pedestrians, or vehicles, as well as smearing unwilling individuals with colour. The commissioner urged citizens to observe the festival in a peaceful manner, stressing that any actions causing inconvenience to others would face severe consequences. He highlighted the need for vigilance during the ongoing month of Ramadan, instructing police to avoid disturbing Muslim prayers. Officers were directed to collaborate with Peace Committees and increase security in sensitive areas to ensure harmony. Visible Policing was prioritized to prevent any untoward incidents, with Blue Colts and patrolling staff required to maintain constant vigilance across the city. The commissioner clarified that forcibly applying colours to unwilling individuals would not be tolerated, reiterating warnings against throwing colours into public spaces or onto vehicles. Special emphasis was placed on monitoring indecent behavior towards women, with SHE Teams deployed to address such incidents. Citizens were advised to use natural colours instead of chemical ones and were reminded that DJs are not permitted during celebrations. To curb disturbances, the police warned that vehicles carrying youths roaming in groups on roads would be seized. Additionally, liquor shops, toddy compounds, bars, and restaurants within Hyderabad Commissionerate limits were restricted from operating between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. on Tuesday.#holi #ramadan #hyderabad_police #v_c_sajjanar #she_teams
