What began as a nationwide financial inclusion mission has now become fertile ground for cybercriminals. In Madhya Pradesh’s Betul district, multiple zero-balance PM Jan Dhan Yojana accounts have been misused as mule accounts to circulate nearly ₹9.84 crore linked to cyber-fraud across several states. Police have arrested three individuals as part of the ongoing investigation.
Fraud Exposed Through Suspicious Transactions:
The case came to light when daily wage labourer Bisram Ivne (40) noticed that close to ₹2 crore had been routed through his Jan Dhan account since June 2025—information he discovered during a routine KYC update. Betul’s cyber cell later confirmed ₹1.5 crore had passed through his account alone.
Six additional accounts showed similar patterns, with transactions ranging from ₹47 lakh to ₹2.24 crore. Alarmingly, five of the seven accounts were Jan Dhan accounts, including one belonging to a deceased man—indicating severe lapses in monitoring and KYC integrity.
Linked to Multi-State Cybercrimes:
Investigators confirmed that the funds were proceeds of cybercrimes committed in Maharashtra, Karnataka, Delhi, and Haryana, including:
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Cryptocurrency scams
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Fake customer care centres
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Phishing fraud
Arrests and Bank Insider Collusion:
Police arrested Raja (Ayush Chauhan, 28), Ankit Rajput (32), and Narendra Singh Rajput (42) from Indore hideouts. Seized items included 15 phones, 21 ATM cards, 11 passbooks, and documents pointing to a broader network of over 20 mule accounts.
A bank’s ad hoc employee has also been implicated for:
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Changing registered mobile numbers
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Issuing new ATM cards
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Enabling access to dormant and even deceased accounts
Part of a Larger Network:
Authorities suspect the arrested individuals are just one layer of a multi-state syndicate. Further arrests are expected as digital trails are traced and financial linkages uncovered.
This case highlights the growing vulnerability of Jan Dhan accounts—originally designed to empower low-income households—to exploitation by organised cyber-fraud networks.
