Mule bank accounts frozen in crackdown on cyber fraudsters in Karnataka, 68 held
Bengaluru (PTI): The Karnataka State Cyber Command has arrested 68 people as part of a statewide drive against mule bank accounts and “mule herders” involved in cyber fraud, officials said on Friday.
The special operations, which have been continuing since last week across Karnataka, targeted networks engaged in aggregating and selling mule bank accounts used for cyber crimes.
The arrests were made between December 2025 and February 2026, police said in an updated report.
“The Karnataka Cyber Command has conducted statewide special operations against Mule accounts and mule herders across Karnataka. The special drive has continued since last week and this is an updated report,” the department said in a statement.
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Police said the investigation identified a network of “mule herders” — individuals who aggregate and misuse mule bank accounts — who were retailing and selling such accounts to cyber criminals.
A total of 68 key accused and suspects have been arrested during the period.
According to the statement, mule herders had collected personal information and documents from unsuspecting laypersons and opened multiple bank accounts in the names of their relatives.
“These accounts were operated in a business-like manner,” it added.
As part of the crackdown, police registered 60 cases and identified 869 mule accounts across the state. As many as 8,788 complaints were registered on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (NCRP) against the identified mule accounts.
The total money involved in all NCRP-linked crimes stood at Rs 85.05 crore, of which Rs 13.43 crore has been put on hold, the Cyber Command said.
During the drive, police obtained 32 search warrants and conducted 35 searches. In the searches, 35 ATM cards, 37 passbooks, 80 mobile phones, 28 cheque books and 22 SIM cards were seized, along with other incriminating materials, officials said. Pronab Mohanty, the Director General of Police (Karnataka State Cyber Command) supervised the special drive, police added.
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Beyond the Hype: Why Software Engineers and AI Are Partners
There is a lot of noise today about Artificial Intelligence. Everywhere you look, someone is saying AI will change the world. Some even say it will reduce the need for software engineers. If you run a business, lead a technology team, or simply follow tech news, this question may be on your mind: is AI really going to take over the work of human programmers?
Let us slow down and think calmly.
Yes, AI is growing very fast. Yes, it can now write computer code, create images, draft emails, and even design products. But at the same time, many claims about AI are exaggerated. Some companies are rushing to adopt AI in everything they do. Others are moving carefully, testing it step by step. Both approaches have logic behind them.
I come from the electronics industry, where we design and build the chips and computing systems that make AI possible. Ironically, to stay competitive, even we have to use Generative AI. Generative AI simply means AI that can create new content such as code, designs, layouts, or reports. It acts like a creative assistant. But there is a major difference between creating something quickly and creating something that is perfect.
In electronics, aerospace, medicine, automobiles, and finance, quality and safety standards are extremely strict. One small mistake can lead to a serious accident, financial loss, or even harm to a person. Imagine an AI system in a hospital giving one wrong suggestion for treatment. Imagine an AI error in an aircraft control system. The consequences can be severe. Because of this, no company in such sectors can blindly trust AI tools, no matter how advanced they appear.
The same reality applies to software engineering. AI can write code. But writing code is only one part of the job. Code must be tested, reviewed, secured, optimized, and made reliable. It must work not just today, but for years without failure. This level of responsibility cannot yet be handed over fully to a machine.
Let us look at what surveys say. A 2025 report by Stack Overflow, mentioned in Forbes, revealed that more than 80 percent of developers are already using AI tools. That sounds impressive. But the same report also showed that 66 percent of them often feel frustrated. Why? Because AI-generated code is almost correct, but not completely correct. It works halfway and then breaks in unexpected ways. In simple words, AI gives a good starting point, but not a finished product.
Earlier studies showed something similar. When AI tools were given simple coding tasks, they performed quite well. But when problems became complex, the AI struggled. It needed careful guidance from experienced engineers. Interestingly, the mistakes made by AI were often smaller and easier to fix compared to human mistakes. This means AI can be useful as a first draft writer. But just like an essay draft, someone must review and polish it before final submission.
This brings us to an important truth. AI can assist software engineers, but it cannot replace skilled professionals. A senior engineer must still check, correct, and finalize what AI produces. Responsibility still lies with humans.
Instead of seeing AI as a threat, it is better to see it as a smart helper. AI can suggest improvements, detect simple errors, and speed up repetitive tasks. It can save time. But timing and context matter. If AI interrupts at the wrong moment or gives too many wrong suggestions, it becomes distracting rather than helpful. Technology alone is not enough. We must also understand how people think and work.
A practical way to use AI is not to throw away existing systems, but to improve them. Many companies are adding AI features on top of their proven software instead of replacing everything. For example, adding a chat-based interface allows users to give simple written instructions instead of learning complicated commands. This makes powerful tools easier to use.
In industries like electronics, core design software is built on decades of human knowledge and testing. It would be unwise to discard such strong foundations. So companies are adding Generative AI as a support layer. You can see this approach in companies like Cadence, Synopsys, Siemens, Nvidia, Google, Microsoft, and Meta. They use AI to enhance their tools, not to start from zero. This keeps trust intact while still encouraging innovation.
In areas where accuracy is critical, AI is used carefully. For example, in quality testing, AI can quickly detect possible defects. But the final decision still depends on established, proven methods. On the other hand, in tasks like improving performance or reducing power consumption in large computing systems, small errors may be acceptable during experimentation. In such cases, AI can explore many design possibilities much faster than humans.
Another important change is how people interact with machines. Many powerful software tools are complicated and require months of training. AI-based interfaces allow users to give simple prompts in plain language. This can make technology more accessible. But easier access does not remove the need for expertise. In fact, experienced engineers become even more valuable. They guide AI tools, validate outputs, and ensure systems remain secure and reliable.
So, will AI take over software engineers? In my opinion, not anytime soon. Fully automatic software development without human involvement is still far away. Even today, AI-written code must be reviewed before being used in real systems.
For newcomers in programming, AI can act as a helpful guide. It can explain concepts, suggest solutions, and speed up learning. But beginners must be cautious. AI sometimes makes small but critical mistakes that are easy to miss without experience. Human judgment remains essential.
The smartest approach is balance. Add AI into existing systems instead of replacing them. Combine speed with supervision. Combine automation with accountability. This way, teams can innovate while still maintaining control and understanding.
Generative AI is a powerful tool. But like electricity or the internet, it becomes meaningful only when used responsibly. The future of technology is not humans versus AI. It is humans and AI working together, each doing what they do best, to build safer, smarter, and more reliable solutions for society.
(Girish Linganna is an award-winning science communicator and a Defence, Aerospace & Geopolitical Analyst. He is the Managing Director of ADD Engineering Components India Pvt. Ltd., a subsidiary of ADD Engineering GmbH, Germany)
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect the views, policies, or position of the publication, its editors, or its management. The publication is not responsible for the accuracy of any information, statements, or opinions presented in this piece.
