A Chinese national allegedly operating a network of mule bank accounts to launder proceeds from online investment scams has emerged as a key figure in a cyber fraud investigation involving transactions worth approximately ₹10 crore across India. The Hyderabad Cyber Crime Police arrested four men who allegedly facilitated the movement of fraudulent funds through bank accounts opened in the names of other individuals.
The arrests followed an investigation into a complaint lodged by a woman who lost ₹37.40 lakh after being lured into investing in fraudulent online trading platforms through WhatsApp.
According to the police, the woman was approached with a promise of substantial returns on investments. Believing the offers to be genuine, she transferred money to the accounts provided by the fraudsters before realising she had been cheated. She lodged a complaint on April 4, following which a case was registered.
Investigators traced the financial transactions and identified 20 mule bank accounts allegedly used to receive and transfer proceeds from cyber fraud.
The arrested accused were identified as 26-year-old Panduraju Abhishek, an interior designer from Pocharam in Hyderabad; 25-year-old Maroju Subrahmanya Chari alias Bannu, a driver; 28-year-old Gedela Nani, also a driver; and 20-year-old Alamanda Manikanta, a helper, all from Bhimavaram in Andhra Pradesh.
Police said Abhishek, who was facing financial difficulties, came into contact with a Chinese national through WhatsApp. The foreign national allegedly offered him commissions in exchange for arranging mule bank accounts and SIM cards that could be used to transfer proceeds from cybercrime.
Abhishek subsequently approached the other three accused and offered them ₹10,000 for each bank account they arranged.
Once the account credentials and SIM cards were obtained, Abhishek allegedly inserted the SIM cards into his mobile phones and transferred money received in those accounts to other mule accounts controlled by the Chinese national.
Investigators said Abhishek received a commission of four per cent on the total amount transferred and withdrew his earnings through nearby ATMs.
During the investigation, Subrahmanya Chari, Nani and Manikanta were apprehended in Bhimavaram. Based on further information, the team travelled to Pocharam and arrested Abhishek.
Police seized nine mobile phones, 10 debit and credit cards, six bank passbooks and eight cheque books from Abhishek’s possession.
Further examination of the financial transactions revealed links to approximately 54 cybercrime cases registered across India, involving suspected fraudulent transactions amounting to nearly ₹10 crore.
The police are investigating the wider network of mule accounts and the role of the Chinese national in coordinating the movement of funds.
A case was registered under Sections 66(C) and 66(D) of the Information Technology Act and Sections 318(4), 319(2), 336(3) and 340(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
Published - October 16, 2026 08:24 pm IST