Surat Police have arrested eight employees of RBL Bank, including the area head and operations head, for allegedly assisting a massive cyber fraud network by opening and managing accounts used for illegal transactions. The accused were linked to the bank’s Vesu, Sahara Darwaja, and Varachha branches, where 89 suspicious accounts recorded transactions worth ₹1,455 crore over six months.
Cyber Fraud Uncovered During Routine Check
According to a media report, the investigation began when police stopped a moped during a routine vehicle check in Udhna and discovered several PAN cards and firm stamps hidden inside. The vehicle belonged to Ronak Sandip Sudani. His statement led police to arrest Kirat Vinodbhai Jadvani and Meet Pravinbhai Khokhar, both residents of Surat.
A search yielded mobile phones, debit cards, chequebooks, cash, electronic devices, and forged documents, valued at around ₹7.02 lakh.
Accounts and SIMs Used for Fraudulent Activities
During questioning, Jadvani and Khokhar revealed they had been running an operation out of Raj Textile Tower in Saroli. For the past nine months, they had been convincing people to open bank accounts, collecting the account kits and SIM cards, and handing them over to an accomplice, Divyesh Jitendrabhai Chakrani. Chakrani then forwarded them to Vineet Prasad, a contact in Delhi, who allegedly passed them on to cyber fraud operators.
89 Fraudulent Accounts Found in RBL Bank
The Udhna police’s Special Investigation Team (SIT) identified 165 suspicious accounts across various banks, with 89 in RBL Bank alone. These 89 accounts processed ₹1,455 crore in transactions, raising red flags and suggesting insider involvement.
Bribes Taken to Facilitate Fraud
According to the investigation, several RBL Bank employees allegedly took bribes to open accounts using unrelated individuals’ identities. These accounts were then used to carry out high-value transactions tied to cyber fraud.
Senior Staff Among Those Arrested
The SIT arrested eight RBL Bank employees on Tuesday, including senior officials and branch-level staff. They are accused of directly enabling the fraud by approving unauthorized account openings and failing to follow due diligence.
Part of a Larger Cybercrime Network
Police suspect the racket is part of a wider cybercrime syndicate operating on a national or even international scale. Efforts are underway to trace where the laundered funds were sent and who ultimately controlled the accounts.
The investigation is ongoing, and more arrests are expected.