**Indore Crime Branch Busts Massive ‘Mule’ Account Ring Linked to Nationwide Cyber Fraud**
**INDORE:** In a significant breakthrough under the ongoing ‘Operation Matrix,’ the Indore Crime Branch has arrested a local man following the discovery of a suspicious bank account that served as a conduit for approximately ₹1.5 crore in illicit transactions.
The investigation into the account, which led to the arrest of Abhishek Tiwari, a resident of Himalaya Colony, Ganesh Nagar Road, has unveiled a complex web of financial crimes spanning across multiple states.
### A Trail of Digital Deception
According to Additional DCP Rajesh Dandotiya, the operation was initiated after the Crime Branch received multiple alerts from law enforcement agencies and cyber cells across the country regarding the suspicious bank account.
“Preliminary investigations revealed a staggering volume of transactions totaling ₹1.5 crore,” said Dandotiya. “Given the nature of the transactions and the multiple red flags raised by agencies in various states, we suspect this account was being used as a ‘mule’ to launder proceeds from cyber frauds.”
### 15 States, One Network
Investigators have uncovered links between the account and cybercrime complaints registered in at least 15 different states. The Crime Branch is currently conducting a deep-dive forensic audit of the account’s ledger to trace the origin of the funds and their eventual distribution.
The primary focus of the ongoing investigation is to determine whether Tiwari operated the account himself or if he had sold or rented out his banking credentials to a larger criminal syndicate—a common tactic used by cybercriminals to bypass security protocols.
### The Rise of ‘Mule’ Accounts
In the world of cybercrime, a “mule account” is a critical tool for criminals. Fraudsters often recruit individuals to provide their bank accounts—either for a commission or under duress—to layer and move stolen money, making it difficult for authorities to track the final beneficiaries.
“We are tracking every transaction to understand the full scope of this network,” an official involved in the investigation stated. “The interrogation of the suspect is expected to reveal the identities of the handlers behind this operation and the extent of the damage caused to victims across these 15 states.”
As digital fraud continues to evolve, the Indore Police’s ‘Operation Matrix’ underscores a growing push by authorities to dismantle the financial infrastructure that supports cybercrime syndicates in India.
The investigation remains active, with police working in coordination with national cyber agencies to map the full extent of the fraud.
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*Reporting by our Crime Desk.*
