For Prelims: Mule account, Cybercrime, Funds placed on hold
For Mains: Security: Cybercrime and financial fraud; Governance: State policing and public safety
Source:
Dainik Bhaskar
5 facts for one-day exams
SSC, railway, police and teaching exams ask direct questions like these.
- Bihar identified 109,475 mule accounts for planned action under Cyber Prahar 5.0.
- The identified mule accounts held ₹72.53 crore.
- Patna had 14,644 identified mule accounts, the highest district total.
- Bihar recorded 47,659 cybercrime complaints in September and October 2026.
- Police returned ₹8.04 crore to cyber-fraud victims during September and October 2026.
The news
Bihar Police has identified 1,09,475 mule bank accounts holding deposits of ₹72.53 crore across all 38 districts of the state. Inspector General of the Cyber Crime and Security Unit, Ranjit Kumar Mishra, announced the development at a press conference at the Sardar Patel Bhawan police headquarters in Patna on Friday, 13 November 2026. Action against these accounts will be taken under Operation Cyber Prahar 5.0, and preparations have begun to open an additional cyber police station in Patna.
Patna recorded the highest number of identified mule accounts at 14,644, followed by Gaya with 6,172, Muzaffarpur with 4,244, Bhagalpur with 4,197 and Nalanda with 4,146. West Champaran had 3,945 accounts, Siwan 3,859, Vaishali 3,441 and Aurangabad 3,326. Officials said Nawada, Nalanda and Patna are among the districts most sensitive to cybercrime. Police are investigating the individuals and networks linked to these accounts.
During the preceding operations, Cyber Prahar 4.0 and 4.1, conducted in September and October 2026, Bihar recorded 47,659 cybercrime complaints, while 5,69,160 complaints were registered nationwide. The reported financial fraud in Bihar during these two months amounted to ₹121.26 crore. Police placed ₹36.94 crore on hold, which is 30.46 per cent of the total fraud amount, and returned ₹8.04 crore to victims.
Operation Cyber Prahar 5.0 Bihar: why in the news?
Bihar Police has identified over one lakh mule accounts holding ₹72.53 crore and announced action under Operation Cyber Prahar 5.0, along with plans for a new cyber police station in Patna, highlighting the scale of cyber-fraud infrastructure in the state.
What is a mule account and how is it used in cyber fraud?
A mule account is a bank account used to receive or transfer the proceeds of crime on behalf of another person. In cyber-fraud cases, fraudsters often use such accounts to layer stolen funds, making it difficult to trace the original beneficiary. Identifying and freezing these accounts is a key step in disrupting the financial network of cybercriminals.
What did the earlier operations achieve and what remains?
Under Cyber Prahar 4.0 and 4.1 in September and October 2026, Bihar Police placed ₹36.94 crore on hold, or 30.46 per cent of the reported fraud amount of ₹121.26 crore, and returned ₹8.04 crore to victims. A hold restricts access to funds pending investigation, while a refund transfers money back to victims; the two figures are not identical. The gap between the amount placed on hold and the amount returned suggests that a significant portion of fraud proceeds remains unrecovered or under investigation.
What is the next step in the operation?
Police are investigating the individuals and networks linked to the identified mule accounts to trace cyber-fraud transactions. Coordination between police and banks is important for timely identification and restriction of suspect funds. Preparations for an additional cyber police station in Patna have begun, though officials have not announced an operational launch date.
Bihar cyber-fraud amounts
| Measure | Amount |
|---|---|
| Deposits in identified mule accounts | ₹72.53 crore |
| Fraud-related amount in September–October | ₹121.26 crore |
| Amount placed on hold | ₹36.94 crore |
| Amount returned to victims | ₹8.04 crore |
Bihar connection
Matters for these Bihar exams:Bihar SIBPSCBSSCBihar Constable
Operation Cyber Prahar 5.0 Bihar: facts and terms for exams
- Mule account:
- A bank account used to receive or transfer proceeds of crime on behalf of another person.
- Cybercrime:
- An offence in which computers, digital networks or electronic devices are used as a tool or target.
- Funds placed on hold:
- Money whose use or withdrawal is restricted pending further action or investigation.
Operation Cyber Prahar 5.0 Bihar: why it matters for exams
Exams: BPSC, Bihar SI, Bihar Constable, BSSC
Syllabus: Security: Cybercrime and financial fraud; Governance: State policing and public safety
Common mistake: Examiners may swap the ₹72.53 crore deposited in identified mule accounts with the ₹36.94 crore placed on hold; these are different figures.
Mains question on Operation Cyber Prahar 5.0 Bihar
Examine the role of mule bank accounts in cyber fraud and assess the effectiveness of police operations such as Cyber Prahar in curbing financial cybercrime in Bihar.
Stuck? Get it in one tap
A mule account is used to receive or transfer proceeds of crime for someone else. Bihar Police has identified such accounts and plans action against them. Money placed on hold is restricted; money returned has been paid back to victims.
- Security: Cybercrime and financial fraud
- Governance: State policing and public safety
Related concepts: Mule account, Cybercrime, Funds placed on hold
Practice questions
Pick an answer, then read the explanation.
- Q1Easy
Which organisation is investigating mule accounts under Operation Cyber Prahar 5.0 in Bihar?
Explanation: Bihar Police is investigating the identified accounts and associated networks. Banks hold the accounts, while victims and account holders are not the investigating police organisation.
- Q2Hard
Consider the following statements about Bihar’s cybercrime operations in 2026:
- 1.Mule accounts were identified in all 38 districts of Bihar.
- 2.The ₹36.94 crore placed on hold was the same amount as the money returned to victims.
- 3.Patna had the highest number of identified mule accounts.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Explanation: Statements 1 and 3 are correct: accounts were identified in all 38 districts, and Patna had 14,644. Statement 2 is incorrect because ₹36.94 crore was placed on hold, while ₹8.04 crore was returned to victims.
- Q3Medium
How many mule accounts had Bihar Police identified for action under Cyber Prahar 5.0 in November 2026?
Explanation: Bihar Police identified 109,475 mule accounts across 38 districts. The other figures differ from the identified total.
- Q4Medium
What is the purpose of investigating the people and networks linked to Bihar’s identified mule accounts?
Explanation: Investigating linked people and networks helps police examine the use of accounts in cyber fraud. The exercise concerns identified suspect accounts, not a count of every account; a district is not a police station, and held funds are distinct from refunds.
Frequently asked questions
1. How many mule accounts were identified in Bihar under Cyber Prahar 5.0?
Bihar Police identified 109,475 mule accounts across all 38 districts for planned action under Cyber Prahar 5.0.
2. How much money was deposited in Bihar’s identified mule accounts?
The identified accounts held ₹72.53 crore.
3. Which Bihar district had the most identified mule accounts?
Patna had the highest count, with 14,644 identified accounts.
4. How much cyber-fraud money was returned to victims in Bihar?
Police returned ₹8.04 crore to victims during September and October 2026.
All sources
- Original13 November 2026 · Read story
