Pimpri | September 11, 2026
Pimpri-Chinchwad cyber police have uncovered an alleged network that obtained bank accounts from citizens by promising loans and used them to receive money linked to cyber fraud, with investigators identifying 70 such accounts and arresting two alleged members from Goa and Kolkata.
The arrested suspects have been identified as Abhikesh Mohan Aachrekar, 34, a resident of Goa, and Anmol Sharma, 32, from Kolkata in West Bengal. Police said the accounts were obtained from ordinary residents in Goa, particularly women, and were subsequently used to route money allegedly collected through cyber-fraud operations.
The investigation began after a manager at a private company was allegedly promised returns of up to 500% on investments in foreign share markets, the stock market and initial public offerings. The victim was defrauded of Rs 83.80 lakh, following which a case was registered at the Pimpri-Chinchwad cyber police station.
During the investigation, police found that Rs 30 lakh from the complainant had been deposited into a bank account jointly held by Aachrekar and a woman, according to Deputy Commissioner of Police Rohidas Pawar. Investigators traced Aachrekar’s movements after finding that he frequently changed his place of residence. Technical analysis allegedly showed that he had travelled to Pune, following which a police team detained him at Khed Shivapur.
Police said questioning Aachrekar revealed that he and his associates had approached people in Goa with offers of obtaining loans. The bank accounts collected through these offers were then allegedly handed over to Sharma and other associates to receive money connected to cyber-fraud cases.
The 70 accounts identified so far allegedly received transactions worth crores of rupees. Police said the amount involved and the full financial trail were still being examined through economic and technical investigations. The authorities have not disclosed the identities of the account holders or stated whether they were aware that their accounts would allegedly be used to route proceeds of fraud.
The case also connects the alleged mule-account network to a wider pattern in which victims are induced to transfer money to accounts controlled by intermediaries. Investigators are examining the relationship between the arrested suspects, the account holders and other people suspected of operating the fraud network.
The economic and technical investigation remains under way, while police continue to trace the transactions made through the 70 accounts and identify additional associates, according to the information released in the report.
