Lucknow: Lucknow Zone Police have launched a sweeping crackdown on cybercrime under ‘Operation Vajra,’ registering 35 cases, arresting 39 accused, freezing or lien-marking Rs 1.98 crore and taking action against more than 1,240 mule bank accounts, officials said on Friday.The statewide campaign was initiated on the directions of DGP Rajeev Krishna to curb cyber fraud by targeting ATM cash-out gangs, cheque-withdrawal fraud, mule account networks, suspect hotspots and suspicious mobile numbers, while also pushing public awareness on cyber safety.The coordinated enforcement drive was conducted simultaneously across two policing regions: the Lucknow Range, covering Hardoi, Lakhimpur Kheri, Rae Bareli, Sitapur and Unnao, and the Ayodhya Range, covering Ayodhya, Ambedkarnagar, Amethi, Barabanki and Sultanpur.In the Lucknow Range, police accounted for 28 cases and 31 arrests. Authorities froze or lien-marked Rs 40.75 lakh and froze 1,240 mule accounts. Hardoi recorded the largest action, with 20 cases and 25 arrests, including 18 cases linked to suspect hotspots, along with cases related to mule accounts and cheque withdrawals. Police lien-marked Rs 40.75 lakh in a mule account, froze 477 mule accounts and said technical analysis is underway to identify additional suspects.In Lakhimpur Kheri, police registered two cheque-withdrawal cases and arrested one accused. Officials said 763 mule accounts were frozen and legal action was initiated based on technical evidence from suspect mobile investigations. Rae Bareli recorded four cases spanning cheque withdrawals, mule accounts and ATM cash-outs, leading to four arrests. Sitapur registered one mule account case with one arrest, while Unnao registered one cheque-withdrawal case and initiated proceedings under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Information Technology Act.In the Ayodhya Range, police registered seven cases, arrested eight accused and froze Rs 1.58 crore. Ayodhya district registered two cases involving mule accounts and cheque-withdrawal fraud, with investigators freezing Rs 11.91 lakh and seeking CCTV footage from multiple ATM and cheque-withdrawal points.In Ambedkarnagar, raids and questioning led to the detection of 64 mule accounts linked to 170 complaints nationwide, with Rs 21 lakh frozen. Amethi police arrested one accused in an ATM cash-out case and froze six accounts, while Barabanki froze Rs 1.25 crore and prepared dossiers on suspected mule account holders. Police said the drive will continue with digital forensics and financial trail analysis.
