CBI Arrests Mumbai Bank Manager for Aiding Cybercriminals in Opening Mule Accounts

Mumbai: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested Nitesh Rai, a Bank Manager at Axis Bank in Mumbai, for allegedly facilitating the opening of mule accounts used in multiple cybercrime cases, including Digital Arrest frauds.

According to the agency, Rai was arrested on November 11 after investigations revealed that he accepted illegal gratification and misused his official position to process fraudulent account opening forms. These accounts were reportedly used to move and disguise proceeds from cybercrimes.

The CBI has registered a case against Rai under the Prevention of Corruption Act and relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). He was produced before a competent court in Mumbai and remanded to CBI custody for further questioning.

Two cybercriminals who allegedly paid bribes to Rai have also been named as co-accused in the case. Both individuals were earlier arrested by the CBI in connection with an ongoing probe into Digital Arrest scams.

The agency said evidence collected so far points to a larger network of organized cybercriminals exploiting the banking system by creating mule accounts to launder fraud proceeds.

The CBI emphasized that any bank official—whether from private or cooperative institutions—found complicit in facilitating cybercrime would face strict legal action. It reiterated its commitment to dismantling cybercrime networks that exploit citizens through fraudulent digital schemes.