Mumbai Court Rejects Bail for Two in Masjid Bunder Mule Account Cyber Fraud Case
A sessions court in Mumbai on Monday rejected the bail applications of two men arrested for allegedly helping cyber fraudsters create mule bank accounts across various financial institutions. The court observed that the applicants were caught red-handed during a police raid and noted that releasing them could lead to tampering with evidence.
The case stems from an operation conducted by Unit 2 of the Crime Branch on July 3, when officers raided premises at Padhy Chambers in Masjid Bunder. Police apprehended four persons during the raid, including the two applicants, identified as Vishal Maru, 22, and Govind Buchiya, 28.
During the search at the Masjid Bunder location, investigators seized 42 mobile phones from various manufacturers, 66 ATM cards, 122 cheque books, and 15 passbooks from different banks. Officers also recovered pen drives, stamp pads, seals, welcome kits, stickers, agreements, account opening forms, eight Airtel SIM cards, computers, and a hard disk.
According to the prosecution, subsequent inquiry revealed that the accused belonged to a network created by an individual named Shabbir Shaikh, with operations allegedly administered by Ranvir Kapoor, who is believed to be residing in Dubai. Shaikh allegedly activated the accounts and provided locations, after which the accused opened bank accounts at the same address under various company names. The accused allegedly received between Rs 25,000 and Rs 50,000 per account, which were subsequently utilised to facilitate cyber fraud and online gaming transactions.
In their bail pleas, Maru and Buchiya argued that they were merely employees working as clerks for Shaikh and claimed there was no evidence linking them to the 122 mule accounts. They also challenged the legality of their arrest, contending they were taken into custody without prior notice.
The court dismissed these arguments, stating that the applicants appeared to be intentionally involved in the crime with mens rea to secure wrongful gain. The court noted that the investigation remains at a preliminary stage and releasing the applicants could hamper the probe.
Addressing the claim of illegal arrest, the court stated that the applicants and co-accused were apprehended red-handed with bogus bank account materials and SIM cards. The court observed that had the investigating officer paused to issue notice, the evidence would likely have disappeared or been tampered with by the accused.
