Mumbai (22 Sept 2025) - In a significant development in a large-scale cyber fraud case, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested an absconding key accused, Neeraj, linked to a ₹3.81 crore scam. The arrest comes after the CBI had already filed a chargesheet and arrested three other individuals in connection with the case.

Modus Operandi-
The CBIs investigation revealed that Neeraj was instrumental in managing the operation by convincing his associate, Sudhir Palande, to open a "mule account" with IndusInd Bank. A mule account is a bank account used by criminals to launder money, often by using an unsuspecting or complicit individual as a middleman. On a single day, ₹3.81 crore, siphoned from various cybercrime victims, was funneled into this account.

Immediately after the money was deposited, it was rapidly diverted to hundreds of other mule accounts across the country to obscure the money trail, a process known as layering. The funds were then further distributed to thousands of accounts before reaching the final fraudsters. Neeraj also facilitated travel of Palande from Mumbai to Nagpur to operate the account and manage the illegal transfers.

The Investigation and Arrest-
The CBI registered the case in July after receiving specific intelligence about the large-scale fraud. They had previously arrested Sudhir Palande and two others—Yash Thakur and Shaurya Singh—who are currently in judicial custody. Neeraj had been on the run since the initial arrests.

Through a combination of technical and local intelligence, the CBI was able to trace and apprehend Neeraj in Mumbai. He was produced before a special CBI court, which has remanded him to CBI custody for further questioning. The agency stated that arrest of Neeraj is a critical step in strengthening the case against the cybercrime gang and may lead to the apprehension of other unknown accused.

What is a Mule Account?-
A mule account is a bank account used by criminals to transfer illicit funds, often the proceeds of cyber fraud, drug trafficking, or human trafficking. The account holder, or "money mule," may be either a willing participant who receives a commission or an unwitting victim who is deceived into becoming a part of the criminal network through fake job offers or online scams. By moving money through these accounts, criminals create layers that make it extremely difficult for law enforcement to trace the funds back to their original source. The use of mule accounts is a common and growing threat in modern financial crime.