Bhubaneswar Police arrested three men for operating fraudulent bank accounts linked to cybercrime.
The arrests followed Capital Police Station Case No.174, registered on March 11, 2026, under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita and the IT Act.
Police identified the accused as Krishna Naik (25), Mahendra Naik (21), and Tukuna Naik (37), all residents of Nayagarh district currently living in Bhagabati Basti, Unit-9, Bhubaneswar. Investigators revealed that the trio collected personal documents from locals, including Santosh Ghadei, and opened accounts in their names at UCO Bank near Master Canteen. They kept passbooks and ATM cards under their control and used the accounts to channel illegal cyber fraud transactions.
Authorities discovered that one such account in Santosh Ghadei’s name recorded transactions worth Rs 1,48,203. Santosh later realised his account was being misused for receiving and distributing fraudulent money. He admitted that the accused promised him a commission for allowing his documents to be used. Police confirmed that similar accounts were opened in the names of other residents as well.
During interrogation, the accused confessed to their involvement in the scheme. Police seized eight passbooks, ATM cards, and one mobile phone from them. The case highlights how cybercriminals exploit mule accounts to launder fraud money.
