Bihar News : Bihar Police have identified more than 5,000 suspicious mule accounts allegedly used for transactions involving cyber fraud money across the state. Patna and the Champaran region have emerged as major hotspots, accounting for more than 30 per cent of the total suspicious accounts identified in Bihar.
The Cyber Crime and Security Unit (CCSU) is investigating the role of bank employees in opening these accounts. Twenty-two bank branches with the highest number of mule account-related complaints have been identified, while four bank employees have been arrested so far.
By July this year, authorities had put Rs 104.05 crore of suspected cyber fraud money on hold, which is around 30 per cent of the total amount cheated. More than Rs 10 crore has also been refunded to victims. In 2025, Rs 116 crore of cyber fraud money was put on hold.
Patna Records the Highest Number of Mule Accounts
Patna has reported the highest number of suspicious mule accounts at 672. Motihari follows with 509 accounts, while Bettiah has 454 such accounts.
Other districts with a high number of suspicious accounts include Nalanda with 325, Saran with 256, Gaya and Madhepura with 183 each, Bhagalpur with 150, Muzaffarpur with 141 and Siwan with 125.
According to the CCSU, cyber fraud money generated in different parts of the country is allegedly being withdrawn through mule accounts opened in Bihar. By March, the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal had received 1,272 such complaints involving cyber fraud of Rs 72 crore.
The Sampatchak area of Patna and nearby localities have also reported a large number of complaints related to mule accounts.
22 Bank Branches Under Investigation, Four Employees Arrested
The CCSU is examining whether bank employees played any role in opening suspicious mule accounts. A total of 22 bank branches have been identified where the highest number of complaints related to such accounts were reported.
Four bank employees have been arrested in connection with the matter so far. The arrested employees are from Patna, Katihar, Bhojpur and Bhagalpur, with one bank employee arrested from each district.
DIG, CCSU, Avkash Kumar said that continuous action is being taken against mule accounts under the special Cyber Prahar campaign. The CCSU team is preparing district-wise lists and examining the accounts.
He said around 100 arrests have been made in connection with the investigation so far, including four bank employees.
Over 5,000 Accounts Identified During Cyber Prahar Drives
During Cyber Prahar 2.0, authorities identified 1,215 mule accounts. Another 536 accounts were detected during Cyber Prahar 3.0.
The special Cyber Prahar 4.0 campaign, which continued until July, resulted in the identification of 3,177 suspicious mule accounts.
Based on the investigation into these accounts, authorities have registered 143 FIRs and arrested 99 accused persons.
How Do Mule Accounts Operate?
Cyber criminals often obtain bank accounts on rent from financially vulnerable or unaware individuals. Once fraud money is transferred into these accounts, the account holder is paid token money and the funds are withdrawn.
The accounts are then used for transactions involving cyber crime proceeds, helping criminals move or withdraw fraud money.
