The Telangana Cyber Security Bureau (TGSCB) has arrested 101 people, including 18 women, in a 14-day inter-state crackdown that traced fraudulent transactions worth Rs 17 crore and identified 1,172 cybercrime links across India, according to the Bureau.
The coordinated operation began on September 23 and covered Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Telangana and Puducherry. Six special teams comprising more than 100 TGSCB personnel were deployed in the second simultaneous multi-state operation led by the Bureau.
TGSCB Director Shikha Goel said the arrests were linked to 51 cases registered across the Bureau’s seven Cyber Crime Police Stations. The state-wise arrest tally was 35 in Kerala, 22 in Andhra Pradesh, 17 in Karnataka, 14 in Tamil Nadu, 12 in Telangana and one in Puducherry.
Investigators said the networks relied on mule bank accounts to receive, transfer and withdraw money obtained through cyber fraud. The accounts were allegedly sourced through agents and intermediaries and used for ATM withdrawals, bulk transfers and transactions linked to overseas channels. Of those arrested, 19 were identified as agents and 81 as mule account holders. Investigators said account holders and intermediaries were paid commissions of up to 5% of the money routed through their accounts.
The Bureau said 206 of the 1,172 identified crime links were connected to Telangana. Fifty of the arrested people were linked to more than five cybercrime cases nationwide. TGSCB said 82% of those arrested were between 20 and 50 years old, while 17% were above 50.
The profiles released by the Bureau show that the accused came from varied occupational and educational backgrounds. Business owners and self-employed people accounted for 23% of those arrested, followed by private-sector employees at 13%, homemakers at 10%, drivers and operators at 7%, and sales and marketing workers at 5%. By education, 26% had completed intermediate education and 24% were graduates.
During preliminary questioning, investigators said a Flipkart employee allegedly allowed a bank account to be used for fraudulent transactions in exchange for a commission. The account was linked to 50 cybercrime cases across India, according to TGSCB. A marketing head of the Manju Group of Companies was linked to 15 cases, while accounts opened in the names of NGOs were allegedly used in transactions connected to 60 cases.
The Bureau also alleged that an employee of Tata Capital and a person involved in money exchange arranged mule accounts for fraudsters for commissions. Other cases involved an ex-serviceman linked to six cases, a diploma-holder in Film Technology linked to 26 cases and a businessman linked to 34 cases. These claims were based on preliminary questioning and remain allegations by the investigators.
Officials said the networks operated across states, shared data and contacts, and moved proceeds rapidly between accounts after each offence. TGSCB sources said the wider operation involved international networks and that further arrests were expected. The Bureau said Look Out Circulars would be issued against wanted international operators, while additional fraudulent amounts may be traced.
Police seized mobile phones, SIM cards, bank passbooks and cheque books allegedly used in the transactions. The next steps announced by TGSCB are the continued tracing of linked fraudulent funds, further arrests and action against suspected international operators.
