Hyderabad: A big scam has been discovered in RBL Bank. 13 people have been arrested in connection with a major cybercrime and hawala scam that has been uncovered at the RBL Bank’s branch in Karimnagar. Fake accounts were found to have been opened to divert funds through seven mule accounts, to perform transactions amounting to Rs 137 crore for Chinese nationals.
As per reports, Rs.137 crore was diverted to China via RBL Bank. Police in Karimnagar, Telangana, have arrested 13 people for running a cybercrime network that used mule bank accounts to carry out illegal transactions. The action was taken under a special drive called “Operation Crackdown 1.0,” which aims to control cybercrime.
What is the Case About?
According to Police Commissioner Ghouse Alam, the accused were using mule accounts opened in RBL bank to help cybercriminals transfer money. These accounts were used to move a huge amount of money. Police found that transactions worth around ₹137 crore were carried out through these accounts.
Role of Main Accused
The main accused, Bandari Sairam, was connected to people based in China. He was receiving a 2% commission for each transaction done through these accounts. This shows that the network was not only local but also had international links.
How the RBL Bank Fraud Was Discovered
The fraud case came to light after complaints were received on the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) portal. During the investigation, police found that suspicious transactions were happening through accounts in a branch of Ratnakar Bank Limited (RBL) in Karimnagar. Further investigation revealed:
- ₹12 crore was transferred through one virtual account
- ₹125 crore was moved through seven other mule accounts
- Total fraud amount reached ₹137 crore
Police have identified 24 people as accused in the case.
Involvement of Bank Employees
Police also found that two bank employees were involved in the fraud. They helped in opening these mule accounts and supported the illegal activities. The accounts were opened by luring common people with promises of easy money.
How the Network Operated
The accused managed these accounts through online platforms. It is suspected that these accounts were used for illegal activities such as online gaming and other cyber frauds. A cooperative society chairman is also believed to have used these accounts for such activities.
Police Advisory to Public
Police have warned people not to share their bank account details, debit cards, or internet banking passwords with anyone for money or commission. They also advised that if anyone becomes a victim of cyber fraud, they should immediately call the helpline number 1930 and report the issue.
