The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) arrested two bank officials on December 24, 2025, for opening mule accounts in collusion with organised cybercriminals. Shalini Sinha, Assistant Manager at Canara Bank, and Abhishek Kumar, Business Development Associate at Axis Bank, were arrested. Both worked in Patna, with Sinha held in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, and Kumar in Bettiah, Bihar. The mule accounts were used to transfer money gained through cyber frauds. The CBI said digital evidence shows the pair actively helped open and manage these accounts. "These two bankers have played active roles in opening and operationalising the mule accounts and further guiding the cyber fraudsters in money mule transactions," the agency said. The officials also advised fraudsters on how to "avoid the system generated red flags." Evidence suggests they received payments as part of their conspiracy. Earlier, the CBI searched 61 locations nationwide and arrested 13 people linked to mule accounts. Charges have been filed against them. The agency is still investigating other bank officials connected to these illegal activities.