Pune: In a major crackdown, 84 accounts at the State Bank of India's Daund branch have been frozen due to illegal financial transactions linked to online gaming and gambling.
The accounts, opened under the guise of various legitimate businesses, were used by a gang to facilitate the illicit activities. Over one crore rupees were transacted through these accounts within six months.
From October 1, 2023, to March 21, 2024, 84 current accounts were opened at the State Bank of India's Daund branch in Pune district.
These accounts were registered under various business names, including vegetable sales, scrap trading, pan shops, tours and travels, fabric stores, barber shops, laundries, ladies tailors, and household industries.
The gang, enticing youths with the promise of money and prizes through online games and gambling, managed to fabricate the necessary documents, including business registration certificates, to open these accounts. They also provided the minimum required cash to open the accounts.
During the six-month period, amounts ranging from a minimum of one lakh to a maximum of five lakhs were deposited in these accounts from various cities across the country, including Mumbai.
Once the money was deposited, the gang withdrew the funds through the account holders in Daund. Over one crore rupees were transacted through these accounts within five and a half months.
The bank noticed that these accounts were not being used for legitimate business transactions and conducted an inquiry. It was revealed that the accounts were being used for online games and gambling.
Consequently, these 84 suspicious bank accounts have been frozen. Transactions exceeding one crore rupees were conducted through these suspicious accounts within the period.
In this case, the bank's branch manager, Vipul Jain, filed a complaint at the Daund Police Station against Anita Solomon Gunji (resident of Goa Galli, Daund) and 83 others.
According to the complaint, a case of bank fraud has been registered against the accused, informed Santosh Doke, the investigating officer and inspector at the Daund Police Station.
