Archive · 22 Dec 2025
CBI Cracks Down on Mule Account Scam
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is working hard to stop cyber fraudsters who use mule accounts to launder money.
They had a meeting with bank officials to discuss how to work together better and speed up investigations.
During this meeting, they talked about ongoing cases and how to make the process smoother.
Earlier, the CBI found two more people involved in a scam where a bank manager named Nitesh Rai helped open fake accounts for cybercriminals.
Nitesh Rai took money to help these criminals, and the CBI found out that he talked to them on WhatsApp.
The two new people involved are A.N. Pathan and P.B. Sahni, who helped transfer the money to Rai.
The CBI also filed a charge sheet against 13 people in a big cyber fraud case and conducted searches in many places to gather evidence.
They found that some of the bank accounts used in the scam were controlled by people in other countries like Cambodia, Hong Kong, and China.
CBI and bank officials held a meeting to discuss mule accounts and cyber fraud, aiming to enhance cooperation and expedite investigations.
The meeting addressed ongoing bank fraud investigations and prosecutions, with detailed presentations and case-specific discussions.
CBI identified two more individuals, A.N. Pathan and P.B. Sahni, involved in the mule account scam facilitated by branch manager Nitesh Rai.
Nitesh Rai accepted Rs 10,000 as illegal gratification to process account opening forms for cybercriminals, with communications occurring over WhatsApp.
CBI filed a charge sheet against 13 accused persons in a major cyber fraud case and conducted coordinated searches across multiple states, recovering incriminating evidence.
- Who
- CBI, Department of Financial Services (DFS), Chief Vigilance Officers of Public Sector Banks (PSBs), Nitesh Rai, A.N. Pathan, P.B. Sahni
- What
- Crackdown on mule accounts and cyber fraud, facilitation of mule accounts and illegal gratification
- When
- January 2, 2025 (gratification), April 30, 2025 to May 4, 2025 (investigation), Monday (meeting), October 2025 (searches)
- Where
- Bandra Reclamation Branch, Mumbai, Delhi-NCR, Haryana, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Kerala, West Bengal
- Why
- To enhance inter-departmental cooperation and expedite investigations pertaining to bank fraud cases, to process account opening forms for cybercriminals
- Primary Suspect
- Nitesh Rai
- Bank Position
- Branch Manager
- Bank Name
- Private Bank (not specified)
- Location
- Bandra Reclamation Branch, Mumbai
- Illegal Gratification Amount
- Rs 10,000
- Date of Gratification
- January 2, 2025
- Additional Accused
- A.N. Pathan, P.B. Sahni
- Investigation Period
- April 30, 2025 to May 4, 2025
- Meeting Date
- Monday (specific date not mentioned)
- Meeting Participants
- CBI, Department of Financial Services (DFS), Chief Vigilance Officers of Public Sector Banks (PSBs)
- Charge Sheet Filed
- 13 accused persons in a major cyber fraud case
- Operation Name
- Operation Chakra-V
- Search Locations
- Delhi-NCR, Haryana, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Kerala, West Bengal
- Evidence Recovered
- Electronic devices, communication logs, financial records, digital evidence
- IP Addresses Analyzed
- Over 15,000
- Cross-Border Connections
- Cambodia, Hong Kong, China
