Telangana State Cyber Security Bureau Headquarters has made another breakthrough in the investigation into the case concerning the opening of mule accounts. A 33-year-old individual named Kesara Kesava Reddy, also known as Maha, residing in Bengaluru but originally from Khammam District, has been apprehended in connection with Crime Number 05/2024 of CCPS (Headquarters), TSCSB. The authorities have seized several items from him, including 2 laptops, 7 mobile phones, 7 SIM cards, 22 SIM card vouchers without SIM cards, 10 bank passbooks, 10 cheque books, and 19 debit cards.
Kesara Kesava Reddy was found to be involved in online cricket betting. He got acquainted with individuals engaged in gaming and IPL betting through social media in February 2023. Seeking quick earnings, he collaborated with them and was tasked with procuring mule bank accounts for online gaming and betting transactions. He connected with Pranay Shinde and his associates for this purpose, with the promise of a 30% commission on the transactions.
Earlier arrests in the same case include Shindhe Pranay, Vanikar Naveen, and Arugula Laxman in May 2024. Pranay and his associate played a pivotal role in opening 125 mule bank accounts for commission. Residents of Bhainsa and neighboring villages were recruited to open these accounts in various banks, with the promise of Rs. 5000 per account. The accused obtained net banking credentials, ATM cards, and cheque books from them and shared the account details with Kesava Reddy, who facilitated the deposit of funds from online gamers into these accounts. Substantial transactions were conducted through these accounts.
The investigation is ongoing to uncover potential national and international links in the case. The team, led by Deputy Superintendent Surya Prakash and Inspector Bhadramraju Ramesh, has made significant strides in cracking the case.
