Kolkata: Lalbazar has launched a probe into a money-laundering racket, allegedly operating mule accounts from Park Street and is trading in crores.Cops said fraudsters allegedly gained unauthorized control of at least ten bank accounts being operated from a private bank branch located near Apeejay House on Park Street, siphoning off nearly Rs 2.5 crore within weeks, the last 48-hour window witnessing the largest transactions.Investigators revealed that the network duped citizens across India using an array of digital fraud tactics but parked the money in these 10 accounts. The primary schemes included .APK downloads, fake stock trading and investment promises, bogus KYC updates, bank official impersonations, and digital arrest scams.The breach came to light following automated flags raised by the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal after a surge in victim complaints across multiple states. Victims were coerced into transferring money under duress or deception, with the bulk of the fraudulent funds—totalling around Rs 2,44,83,000—accumulated between Sept 24 and Sept 26.Officers are currently reviewing local CCTV footage, examining IP logs, and working closely with financial intelligence units to trace the beneficiaries and dismantle the mule syndicate’s local infrastructure.
