The Karnataka CID Cyber Crime Division has started a helpdesk for people whose bank accounts have been frozen or placed under a lien during cybercrime investigations. The initiative is aimed at helping account holders understand why their accounts have been restricted and giving them a way to approach the authorities with their concerns.

Bank accounts can sometimes be frozen when police trace money linked to an online fraud. During an investigation, money may move through several accounts before reaching the suspected fraudsters. As a result, some genuine account holders may also find their accounts blocked even though they may not have knowingly taken part in any cybercrime.

The Karnataka CID has been investigating the use of so-called mule accounts, which are bank accounts allegedly used by cybercrime networks to receive or transfer money obtained through fraud. Recent investigations have identified more than 42,000 suspected mule accounts, showing the large scale of the problem.

The new helpdesk is expected to provide affected people with a channel to explain their situation and seek assistance. Account holders can find out why their account has been restricted and provide relevant information to investigators. The exact action taken may depend on the details of each case and the instructions given to the bank by the investigating authorities.

A recent Karnataka High Court case also highlighted concerns over freezing an entire bank account. In April 2026, the court dealt with a case where a person’s salary account was fully frozen even though investigators had placed a lien of only ₹5,000. The court directed that the lien could remain, but the person should be allowed to use the remaining balance.

The CID initiative is expected to provide relief to genuine customers caught in cybercrime investigations. However, people should also be careful about allowing others to use their bank accounts for receiving or transferring money. A frozen account does not automatically mean that the account holder is guilty, but affected customers should cooperate with investigators and keep all relevant bank records and documents.