Hyderabad (Telangana) [India], October 7 : The Telangana Cyber Security Bureau (TGCSB) has arrested 101 accused persons, including 18 women, and traced fraudulent transactions amounting to approximately Rs 17 crore during a coordinated two-week cybercrime operation conducted across six states and Union Territories in South India.
The operation, which commenced on September 23, covered Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Telangana and Puducherry, targeting individuals and networks allegedly involved in cyber-enabled financial crimes and the movement of fraudulent funds through mule bank accounts.
According to TGCSB, six dedicated special teams comprising more than 100 personnel were deployed for coordinated field-level action across the states and Union Territory.
Of the 101 persons arrested, 35 were from Kerala, 22 from Andhra Pradesh, 17 from Karnataka, 14 from Tamil Nadu, 12 from Telangana and one from Puducherry.
The investigation identified 19 of those arrested as alleged agents or intermediaries and 81 as mule account holders. Several mobile phones, SIM cards, bank passbooks and cheque books allegedly used in fraudulent transactions were also seized during the operation.
The Bureau said approximately Rs 17 crore in fraudulent transactions was traced through the mule accounts.
The arrests are connected to 51 cases registered across seven TGCSB Cyber Crime Police Stations. Investigators have so far traced 1,172 cybercrime links across India, including 206 links connected to Telangana.
Of the 101 accused arrested, 50 were found to have more than five crime links across the country, according to the Bureau, indicating the extent of the networks allegedly involved in the cases.
The investigation found that the accused came from different age groups, professions and educational backgrounds.
TGCSB said 82 per cent of those arrested were in the 20-50 age group, while 17 per cent were above 50.
Business and self-employment accounted for the largest occupational group at 23 per cent, followed by private employment at 13 per cent, housewives or homemakers at 10 per cent, drivers/operators at seven per cent and sales and marketing professionals at five per cent.
Educationally, 26 per cent of the accused had Intermediate-level education, while 24 per cent were graduates or degree holders. Another 16 per cent had secondary education, 11 per cent were uneducated and seven per cent had Diploma or ITI qualifications.
The Bureau also identified several accused with professional qualifications and employment backgrounds who were allegedly involved in facilitating the movement of cybercrime proceeds.
Among the cases highlighted by TGCSB was that of an employee of Tata Capital who allegedly acted as an agent by facilitating mule bank accounts for cybercrime operators in return for commissions.
A graduate involved in the money-exchange business was also allegedly found to have facilitated mule accounts on a commission basis.
An ex-serviceman allegedly involved in cybercrime was found to be linked to six cybercrime cases across the country, while an accused with a Diploma in Film Technology was linked to 26 cases, according to investigators.
Similarly, a businessman with an M.Com qualification was allegedly linked to 34 cybercrime cases across India.
A graduate employed with Flipkart was also arrested after investigators allegedly found that his bank account had been used for cybercrime-related fraudulent transactions for commission. The account was linked to 50 cybercrime cases across the country, TGCSB said.
An MBA graduate working as Marketing Head of Manju Group of Companies was allegedly linked to 15 cybercrime cases.
The Bureau also found that accounts opened in the names of NGOs or trusts were allegedly misused for receiving and transferring cybercrime proceeds and were linked to 60 cases across India.
The operation also involved coordinated arrests across state boundaries.
In connection with CCPS Warangal Crime Nos. 67/2025 and 69/2025, the Karnataka team arrested Tukaram Hembade in Bengaluru based on the statement of an accused. Subsequently, the Andhra Pradesh team arrested Kokkarlapati Siddhu Varma at Anakapalli in connection with the same cases.
In another case, the CCPS Headquarters team arrested C. Vijay Kumar in Puducherry in connection with Crime No. 52/2026, relating to a movie piracy case.
According to the investigation, cyber fraudsters allegedly procured mule bank accounts through agents and intermediaries and used them to receive, transfer and withdraw fraudulent funds.
The funds were allegedly moved through different channels, including ATM withdrawals, bulk transfers and transactions linked to overseas accounts.
TGCSB said account holders and intermediaries were allegedly paid commissions of up to five per cent of the fraudulent amount transacted through their accounts.
The Bureau said further investigation is underway to identify additional crime links, interstate connections and possible international networks associated with the cases.
Director TGCSB commended the officers and teams involved in planning, monitoring and executing the operation, including B. Sai, IPS; Biksham Reddy, Additional SP; K. V. Surya Prakash, DSP; K. V. M. Prasad, DSP; and officers heading various cybercrime police stations and district cybercrime units.
The Telangana Cyber Security Bureau also appealed to citizens to remain vigilant against emerging cyber fraud methods, particularly fake online trading schemes and “digital arrest” scams.
The Bureau advised people not to trust online stock, forex or cryptocurrency trading platforms or task-based income schemes promising unusually high returns.
It also warned that no police, customs or courier official would demand money or video verification through online platforms in a legitimate investigation.
Citizens were advised against sharing personal or banking information, OTPs or QR codes with unknown persons, and were urged not to transfer money to unfamiliar bank accounts or links received through social media.
TGCSB further advised citizens to use only verified applications and websites for financial transactions and to report suspected cybercrime immediately through the 1930 helpline or the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal.
The operation is the second simultaneous multi-state operation led by TGCSB and reflects the Bureau's continued focus on identifying and dismantling cybercrime networks that operate across state boundaries and exploit multiple jurisdictions.