2 bank branch managers under scanner in Rs 7.3-crore mule-account racket

New Delhi: Two branch managers of a private bank are under the scanner for allegedly facilitating a mule-account racket that channelled cybercrime proceeds worth Rs 7.3 crore.Six people, including Shobhit Aggarwal, branch manager of the bank’s Saraswati Vihar branch, have been arrested, while Sushant Kumar, branch manager of the Tri Nagar branch, is absconding. Police are also probing alleged cryptocurrency transactions linked to the network and a suspected connection to a Chinese national.The racket surfaced during scrutiny of suspicious accounts at the Tri Nagar branch. Police found that some account holders had allegedly never visited the branch, while addresses linked to several accounts could not be verified. Many of the accounts were linked to cybercrime complaints registered across the country.As the probe expanded, investigators identified 17 more suspicious accounts. Police alleged that photographs and KYC documents had not been captured through the prescribed live-verification process and that several addresses were non-existent.A technical analysis of mobile numbers, email IDs and linked devices led police to Mayank Kapoor, alleged to be the operator of the mule-account network. He was arrested from Baba Haridas Nagar.During interrogation, Kapoor allegedly disclosed that he collected identity documents and photographs from daily-wage labourers on the pretext of arranging loans and then used them to open bank accounts.Police alleged that Aggarwal facilitated the opening of accounts without the physical presence of account holders and using forged signatures. He allegedly introduced Kapoor to Kumar, expanding the operation across both branches. Sales staff Manoj, Ankur, Fatma and Pankaj allegedly processed the accounts, which were approved by the branch managers.Investigators have identified around 37 suspected mule accounts linked to 99 cybercrime complaints nationwide, with nearly Rs 7.3 crore credited into them. Police alleged that part of the proceeds was shared with bank officials, while the remaining amount was converted into USDT cryptocurrency through Trust Wallet.Aggarwal and the four sales staff members were arrested after investigators gathered what they described as sufficient evidence. Police recovered seven mobile phones, a laptop, seven cheque books, Rs 60,000 in cash, around 150 grams of gold, 55 passport-size photographs, 11 SIM cards, 63 Aadhaar cards, 60 PAN cards and seven debit cards.You Can Also Check: Gold Rate in Delhi | Silver Rate in Delhi | Bank Holidays in Delhi | Public Holidays in Delhi | Delhi AQI | Weather in Delhi | Petrol Price in Delhi | Diesel Price in Delhi | CNG Price in Delhi | LPG Price in DelhiStay updated with the latest Delhi news. Download the TOI App.