Nainital district police registered 43 cases linked to mule bank accounts within 24 hours after Additional Director General V. Murugesan reprimanded officials over slow action against accounts allegedly used in cybercrime transactions.
The cases concern bank accounts used by cybercriminals to receive or transfer money. Police said 25 FIRs were registered at 2 police stations in the Haldwani Circle. Nineteen people were named in those cases, while 9 previously unidentified account holders were traced. Their details are now being verified.
More than 12 named accused were also listed in cases registered at other police stations across Nainital district. Being named in an FIR does not establish guilt, and police questioning and investigation are still pending.
FIR distribution across Nainital district
The 43 FIRs were distributed among the district’s police stations as follows:
- Haldwani: 15 cases
- Mukhani: 10 cases
- Ramnagar: 08 cases
- Mallital: 04 cases
- Lalkuan: 02 cases
- Tallital: 02 cases
- Kaladhungi: 01 case
- Bhawali: 01 case
The figures total 43 FIRs. The police said around 19 people had been named and approximately 9 account holders remained unidentified in the registered cases. Investigators are working to obtain information about the unidentified holders.
People named in Haldwani Circle cases
The people named in the Haldwani Circle FIRs include Ramsingh of Udham Singh Nagar, Pushpendra Singh Negi of Almora, and Nemchandra Sharma of Talli Bamori.
The list also includes Ritik Arya of Bithoria Number one, Manoj Kumar of Kaladhungi, Mahendra Chandra of Haidakhan, Sanjeev Kumar of Gaujajali, and Shakir Saifi of Banbhoolpura.
Others named are Rajkumar of Badi Mukhani, Sagar Arya of Prempur Loshyani, Kevalanand Joshi of Nilayam Colony, Hitesh Arya of Gas Godown Road, Tasleem of Rajpura, Ali of Ambedkar Nagar, and Kamal of Kulyal pura.
Mohammed Shabbir and Shadab, both from Rajpura, and Suhail Khan of Railway Bazaar are also among those named in the Haldwani Circle cases. Police are expected to question all named accused.
Warning over bank accounts and cards
Nainital Senior Superintendent of Police Dr. Manjunath T.C. appealed to residents not to allow anyone else to operate their bank accounts. He specifically cautioned people against handing over their debit cards, cheque books or registered mobile numbers for use by another person.
The warning is aimed at preventing legitimate accounts and banking instruments from being used in transactions connected with cyber fraud. Account holders whose details have been traced will be examined as part of the investigation.
ADG V. Murugesan has directed officials to act firmly in such cases. He also warned that if station house officers are negligent, their continuation as station house officers could be reconsidered.
The development raises questions about why stronger action against mule accounts began only after intervention by senior officers. The immediate next step is questioning named accused and identifying the remaining account holders.
Conclusion
Nainital police have registered 43 mule-account FIRs within 24 hours, with 19 people named in the Haldwani Circle cases and unidentified account holders being traced. Police will question the named accused and investigate how the accounts were used.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. How many mule-account cases were registered?
Police registered 43 FIRs across Nainital district within 24 hours.
Q. How many cases were registered in Haldwani Circle?
Twenty-5 FIRs were registered at 2 Haldwani Circle police stations.
Q. How many people were named in the Haldwani Circle cases?
Nineteen people were named in those cases.
Q. How many unidentified account holders were traced?
Police said 9 previously unidentified account holders were traced, and their information is being collected.
Q. Which police station recorded the most cases?
Haldwani recorded the highest number, with 15 cases, followed by Mukhani with 10.
Q. What action will police take against the named accused?
Police said all named accused will be questioned as part of the investigation.
Q. What warning did the SSP issue to residents?
SSP Dr. Manjunath T.C. advised people not to give their bank accounts, debit cards, cheque books or registered mobile numbers to others for operation.
Q. What did the ADG warn about negligence?
ADG V. Murugesan said the continuation of negligent station house officers in their s could be reconsidered.
