300,000 Citizens Reached, 152 Arrested: Pune Police’s Multi-Pronged Cybercrime Drive

Pune, 31st July 2026: Pune City Police have arrested 152 accused and registered cases against 132 suspected mule bank account holders as part of “Operation Mule Hunt,” a nationwide campaign targeting financial networks that support cybercrime, according to an official police press note.

Mule accounts are fake, rented or voluntarily supplied bank accounts—often made available in return for payment—that criminals use to receive and transfer money obtained through online fraud. The campaign aims to dismantle these financial channels and curb cyber scams.

The operation is being conducted under the guidance of the Pune Police Commissioner in coordination with Maharashtra Cyber. Police said the crackdown has also been extended to other districts in Maharashtra.
According to the press note, cases have been registered against 132 mule account holders at various police stations across Pune. Information obtained from banks led to the arrest of 152 accused.

Police are also acting on 1,705 notices received from other states through an interstate coordination portal, and the individuals concerned are being questioned. Pune City Police have separately sent 2,099 notices to suspected mule account holders in other states, with further action under way.

During the investigation, accused persons have been arrested from Pune, Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar and locations in other states. Charge sheets have also been filed before courts in the relevant cases.

Investigators are examining financial and banking transactions, mobile call records, digital transaction records and links between account holders and cybercriminals. Police warned that people who financially enable cybercriminals by providing access to their accounts may be prosecuted as co-accused.

Residents have been urged not to allow unknown persons to use their bank accounts. They should also never share ATM cards, cheque books, net-banking credentials, one-time passwords, SIM cards, mobile numbers, email addresses, Aadhaar details, PAN details or other personal information. Anyone who supplies such information may face legal action if it is used to commit a cyber offence.

Police said 1,142 cyber-safety awareness programmes had been organised across Pune in 2026, reaching approximately 300,000 citizens.

Under the “Campus Connect–Safe Horizon” initiative, awareness sessions are being conducted at schools, colleges, IT companies, housing societies and government offices. The sessions cover cyber safety, financial fraud, mule accounts, the harmful effects of narcotics and the importance of building a drug-free society.

Pune Police appealed to citizens to immediately report anyone suspected of assisting cybercriminals to the nearest police station or cyber police station. They stressed that combating cybercrime is a shared responsibility and urged residents to safeguard their financial and personal information and promptly report suspicious transactions.

The campaign’s message is: “Vigilant Citizens, Secure Digital India.”