Thane call centre scam: Hawala operators to be made witnesses

Four hawala operators, who were questioned in connection with the multi-crore call centre scam, are likely to be made witnesses in the case.

Four hawala operators, who were questioned in connection with the multi-crore call centre scam, are likely to be made witnesses in the case.

The operators were picked up from different locations in the western suburbs of Mumbai on Wednesday, after their names cropped up while questioning the key accused arrested in the case.

A senior Thane crime branch officer said the statement of the hawala operators is important to establish the money trail between Mumbai and Ahmedabad. Investigations revealed the hawala traders in Mumbai delivered Rs4 crore in cash at the seven call centres in Hari Om IT park in Mira Road every month. They took instructions from their contact in Ahmedabad, believed to be a close confidant of mastermind Sagar Thakkar alias Saggy. “They were conduits in the racket which is being run by big guns in Ahmedabad,” the senior crime branch officer said.

Investigations revealed the money was used to pay salary to more than 700 employees of the seven call centres in Mira Road.

Meanwhille, an engineer from Texas in America call the Thane police to complain that the Mira Road based call centre cheated him of 1 lakh US dollars.

Parag Manere, deputy commissioner of police, Thane crime branch, said, “Madhukar Keer, 37, has approached us. We are getting calls from victims who are of Indian origin and we are looking into the complaints.”

FBI officials to meet Thane police

Officials from the Federal Bureau of investigation (FBI) of the United States of America (USA) will meet senior Thane police officers on Friday to discuss the on-going investigation into the Thane call centre racket

The Internal Revenue Services (IRS) claimed more than 6,500 US citizens were duped to the tune of over Rs500 crore by the fraudsters masquerading as IRS officials

“We will share details of the case with the FBI,” said Parag Manere, deputy commissioner of police, Thane crime branch.

Earlier, a team from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) of the US was briefed about the case