‘Operation Mule Hunt’ exposes ₹2,289 crore cyber fraud network in Gujarat; 638 arrested

Key points

• In one of Gujarat’s largest crackdowns on cybercrime-linked financial networks, the State police have uncovered cyber fraud worth ₹2,289 crore and taken action against 913 mule bank accounts during a special Statewide operation aimed at dismantling the financial infrastructure used by cybercriminals.
• The crackdown, titled Operation Mule Hunt 1.0, led to the registration of 565 FIRs and the arrest of 638 accused persons, according to details shared by the Gujarat government on Monday (June 1, 2026).
• The drive was conducted by the Gujarat Police and the Cyber Centre of Excellence (CCOE) under the supervision of Deputy Chief Minister and Home Minister Harsh Sanghavi as part of the State government’s broader effort to combat cybercrime, officials said.
• A mule account is a bank account used to receive, transfer or launder money obtained through online fraud.
• Such accounts are often operated by individuals who knowingly or unknowingly allow cybercriminals to route illicit...