The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) in Jodhpur, has registered a major case against a former senior bank official and several private individuals for allegedly operating a massive “mule account” racket. The scam involved the fraudulent routing of over ₹537 crore through fictitious business accounts at a public sector bank in Rajasthan.
The FIR, registered on January 13, 2026, follows a detailed preliminary inquiry initiated in July 2025.
The Accused
The CBI has named 10 primary accused and other unknown public servants in the First Information Report:
- Shri Aman Anand: The then Chief Manager and Branch Head of Punjab & Sind Bank, Main Branch, Sriganganagar.
- Fictitious Firms & Proprietors: * M/s A One Hybrid Seeds (Manoj Kumar).
- M/s Unique Cosmetics (Govinda).
- M/s Star Lab and Diagnostics (Bhawani Soni).
- M/s Lagoon Tour Planner (Manoj Mehra).
- Private Individuals/Facilitators: Praveen Arora, Prem Kumar Sain, Aatil Khan, Ms. Roli, and Aditya Gupta (alias Vishal Gupta) .
The Modus Operandi: “Mule” Accounts for Cyber-Crime
According to the CBI’s findings, the fraud took place between June and July 2024. The investigation revealed a sophisticated criminal conspiracy:
- Fictitious Firms: Four current bank accounts were opened in the names of firms that were entirely non-existent.
- Forged Documents: The private accused persons provided fabricated KYC documents, false rent agreements, and other forged supporting papers to the bank.
- Official Connivance: Shri Aman Anand, while serving as the Branch Head, allegedly abused his position to facilitate the opening of these accounts. He is accused of creating fake site visit reports and fraudulent business verifications to bypass standard due diligence and KYC norms.
- The Money Trail: These “mule” accounts were used to receive, layer, and route the proceeds of cyber-fraud and other illicit activities. A staggering ₹537.00 crores was moved through these channels in a very short period.
Legal Impact and Investigation
The CBI stated that this operation caused significant reputational loss to Punjab & Sind Bank and exposed the institution to severe financial risks and penalties.
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The case has been registered under the Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023 and the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988:
- BNS Sections: 61(2) read with 318, 336, and 340 (Corresponding to IPC sections for Criminal Conspiracy, Cheating, and Forgery).
- PC Act Sections: 13(2) read with 13(1)(a) regarding criminal misconduct by a public servant.
The formal investigation has been entrusted to Shri Vanay Singh Meena, Deputy Superintendent of Police, CBI ACB Jodhpur. Authorization for the FIR was provided by Rajveer, IPS, Head of Branch.
