<h1>CBI questions bank officials over 8.5 lakh mule accounts in money laundering conspiracy with cyber crime syndicates</h1> The CBI initiated questioning of bank officials allegedly involved in facilitating 8.5 lakh mule accounts used in a nationwide money laundering conspiracy with cyber crime syndicates. The investigation revealed systemic failures including non-generation of Suspicious Transaction Reports despite transactions exceeding thresholds, inadequate Customer Due Diligence during account opening, and violations of regulatory guidelines. The probe uncovered accounts across 743 bank branches, with officials failing to conduct enhanced due diligence on high-risk accounts. Many accounts were opened using forged documents or without account holders' knowledge, particularly targeting illiterate individuals. The agency registered an FIR naming 37 accused individuals and conducted raids resulting in 10 arrests, exposing middlemen who connived with banking correspondents to facilitate fraudulent operations.