National News
Igatpuri Fake Call Centre Probe: How A Fake Call Centre Network Grew Under An IG’s Supervision, CBI Probe Reveals Shocking
Mumbai: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is probing a sprawling fake call centre network dismantled in Igatpuri in August 2025, which allegedly operated under the protection of an Inspector General of Police (IGP)-rank officer of the Maharashtra Police, considered one of the masterminds. The officer, with significant political clout, reportedly provided protection and logistical support to the syndicate, which allegedly had links across multiple districts and possible political backing.
Sources indicate the IG-rank officer exercised influence within the political and police hierarchy, allegedly controlling IPS postings, overseeing promotions, and directing the relocation and operations of illegal call centres. The network had a hierarchical, corporate-style structure involving officers from the IG-level oversight down to constables. It even maintained an internal “crisis management team” led by SP-rank officers and extending to local crime branch units and station-level officials. This setup allegedly ensured quick responses to enforcement actions, allowing the multi-crore operation to continue unhindered.
Investigators believe the network first took root around 2020–21 in Palghar district, where three fake call centres allegedly operated under the shield of a senior Superintendent of Police (SP)-rank officer in areas like Saphale, Wada, and Mokhada. Each centre boasted 25-30 “desks,” with operators paying Rs 1-2 lakh per table in monthly protection fees, generating Rs 10-15 lakh daily per table through frauds peddling fake Viagra, Amazon gift cards, credit card scams, and bogus ayurvedic products.The operation relied on advanced digital tools, cloud servers, e-commerce gateways, and VPNs to target international victims. A significant portion of illicit proceeds reportedly flowed via hawala networks to senior police brass, including IG-level officials.
The Palghar network expanded further in 2022. The officer, then a Superintendent of Police (SP) and now the IG in question, was promoted and posted as Joint Head of Law and Order in Thane, assuming a senior supervisory role. Soon after, in April 2022, a newly promoted IPS officer from Palghar, who controlled the three call centres, joined him as Additional Commissioner of Police (Addl CP) in Thane. These two senior officers, allegedly in collusion with a DCP-rank promotee IPS officer, facilitated the relocation of the Palghar network to Thane in June 2022. Operational control of the syndicate allegedly remained with the same core team, led by absconding accused Sandeep Singh and arrested accused Vishal Yadav, both of whom were later linked to the Igatpuri call centre network busted by the CBI on August 8 this year.
Later that year,a DCP-rank officer transferred to Mira Road allegedly shifted one Thane-based call centre to the Mira Road–Vasai–Virar (MBVV) jurisdiction. By the end of 2022, three units operated across Thane and MBVV, with senior officers allegedly collecting substantial protection payments. Sources described these relocations as strategic, designed to evade law enforcement, rather than routine precautions.
A senior officer, speaking on condition of anonymity, said it was a calculated strategy, allegedly orchestrated with the involvement of senior IPS officers. All logistical requirements for leasing premises, including forged KYC documents and advance cash rentals, were reportedly arranged through middlemen. The officer added that this process would not have been possible without police links, particularly the blessings of senior officials. By shifting premises, changing internet providers, SIM cards, and IP addresses, the operators effectively erased digital footprints, evading law enforcement while recruiting unsuspecting employees under new identities.
Investigation findings suggest that this syndicate of uniform and fake call centre operations allegedly generated crores of rupees annually over the past few years, functioning through a meticulously organised system of fund collection, distribution, and laundering. Lower-rank officers, identified as Khade, Patil, and Nimde, are alleged to have acted as intermediaries, collecting protection money and funneling it through hawala agents, who then reportedly routed the funds to senior officers. Both senior and junior police officers are now reportedly under CBI scrutiny.
The network reportedly continued to operate even as senior officers changed postings. In June 2024, the senior Thane officer was promoted and transferred to Special Inspector General (IG) of Nashik Range. During his absence, the Additional CP-rank IPS officer reportedly faced challenges in managing the operations but remained active.In May 2025, the IG-rank officer allegedly ensured the transfer of the Additional CP-rank officer from Thane to a prime position in the MBVV Commissionerate. Following this move, the Thane units were allegedly shuttered and quickly re-established in the new MBVV jurisdiction.
The establishment of a new fake call centre in Mira Road faced resistance from an active syndicate led by Sadik, whose network was already operational in the MBVV region, defrauding U.S. citizens. A raid on May 26, 2025 by MBVV police, dismantled Sadik’s network. Although the Additional CP’s unit continued operations briefly, it was eventually shut down due to conflicts with Sadik’s group. Despite his alleged involvement in the syndicate, the Additional CP remains in service and currently heads the Special Investigation Team (SIT) appointed by the DGP to probe a controversial custodial death (or ‘encounter killing’) case.
Central agency sources revealed that even after the IG’s promotion and transfer to Nashik, the call centre operations remained under his control. Units in Thane, Navi Mumbai, Raigad, and Karjat were managed by trusted officers under the supervision of some of his close promotee IPS officers.A few months after he assumed charge in Nashik, these call centres were allegedly shifted back to his jurisdiction, ensuring that the operations continued under his oversight, with substantial amounts of protection money reportedly collected regularly.
The CBI has seized extensive digital evidence, including call logs, server data, and financial transactions, which may establish a direct chain of command between operators and high-ranking officers. Several senior officials are under investigation. “The probe is at a critical stage,” said an official familiar with the case. “We are uncovering the anatomy of an organised racket that operated under the very noses of those meant to stop it.”
Crime
Delhi Police arrest three in illicit liquor supply case

New Delhi, Aug 22: In a major crackdown on the illegal transportation and supply of liquor, the Anti-Auto Theft Squad (AATS) team of the North-East District of Delhi Police arrested three persons and recovered 778 quarters of Haryana-marked illicit liquor along with two taxis allegedly used to transport the consignment.
The action was carried out on August 21, 2026, after Head Constable Deepak, along with Head Constable Anuj and Constable Mukesh, was conducting area patrolling duty near Maujpur Chowk.
At around 6:30 a.m., the police team received information from a secret informer that two taxis carrying illicit liquor from Haryana would arrive near Seelampur Metro Station. The taxis’ numbers were also shared by the informer.
Acting on the information, the police team reached the location. At around 7:30 a.m., both taxis arrived and were intercepted. Three persons were apprehended, while another individual reportedly managed to flee from the spot.
A search of the vehicles led to the recovery of 399 quarters of illicit liquor from taxi HR55AX3345 and 379 quarters from taxi DL1ZD5015, taking the total recovery to 778 quarters.
The arrested accused have been identified as Vinit Chauhan (35), owner of taxi bearing number — HR55AX3345; Akash Sharma (25), driver of taxi bearing number — DL1ZD5015; and Vishal (23), who was allegedly accompanying the other accused.
During interrogation, the accused reportedly disclosed information about the source of the illicit liquor. Police are verifying the information and conducting further investigation to identify other individuals allegedly involved in the supply chain.
A case has been registered as FIR No. 288/26 under Section 33 of the Delhi Excise Act at Seelampur Police Station. Police said none of the three arrested accused has any previous criminal involvement on record. Further investigation is underway, according to police.
Business
Banks raise $72.8 billion in forex inflows till Aug 21, FCNR(B) deposits reach $65.4 billion: RBI

New Delhi, Aug 22: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Saturday said that authorised dealer banks have raised a massive $72.848 billion in forex inflows till August 21, and a major chuck came from FCNR (B) deposits at $65.397 billion.
External Commercial Borrowings (ECBs) and Overseas Foreign Currency Borrowings (OFCBs) under Reserve Bank’s Swap facility helped raised another $7.451 billion till August 21.
RBI had introduced a special USD-INR forex swap facility covering FCNR(B) deposits, ECB and OFCB inflows on June 8, 2026.
“As already announced vide Press Release dated August 14, 2026, the Scheme is open till August 31, 2026 for FCNR(B) deposits, and up to December 31, 2026 for ECBs and OFCBs,” The Research Bank said in a statement.
The massive foreign inflows arrive as Indian banks have stepped up their efforts to attract FCNR(B) deposits by offering higher interest rates after the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) suddenly cut short the deadline for its dollar-rupee swap window to August 31, from September 30.
The swap facility, announced in June to boost the inflow of dollars amid a weakening rupee, was originally available until the end of September, but the RBI abruptly shortened this by a month due to the “encouraging response” to the facility, which resulted in the required amount of foreign exchange flowing into the country.
While there may be valid reasons to justify an early closure of the RBI’s FCNR(B) deposit scheme, the most likely reason could be that the target for dollar mobilisation has already been achieved with inflows at $57 billion, and another $25-30 billion could easily flow in the remaining days of August, taking the total collections to around $85 billion, an SBI Research report said earlier this week.
According to the SBI report, “we don’t believe that the cost of swap could have been a constraining factor”.
“Our estimates show that the cumulative cost would amount to around 15 per cent of the corpus, or $10.5 billion. While this appears sizeable in absolute terms, it needs to be viewed against the scale of India’s foreign-exchange reserves rather than the FCNR(B) corpus alone,” the report argued.
Meanwhile, foreign exchange reserves jumped $9.905 billion to $716.90 billion during the week ended August 14, according to data released by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Friday. The latest increase comes a week after the country’s forex reserves had surged by $14.1 billion to $707 billion, marking their highest level in the current financial year.
The rise in reserves was supported by inflows under the RBI’s FCNR(B) deposit scheme, which began to reflect in the country’s foreign exchange reserves.
National News
CJP vs villagers: Rajasthan school shifted within 24 hours in Jaipur

Jaipur, Aug 22: A day after a dispute between the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) and villagers of Rampura over an inspection of a government school in Jaipur escalated into allegations of assault, intimidation and a law-and-order breakdown, the government school was shifted to a building about 50 metres away, within 24 hours of Friday’s clash.
After the confrontation, CJP founder and convenor Abhijeet Dipke had warned of an escalation stating that he would sit on a dharna in Jaipur if steps weren’t taken within 48 hours to improve the condition of the school.
The Rampura government school was shifted to a house in the village on Saturday morning. More than 16 children were present at the new location along with two teachers.
The room being used for classes had previously operated as a grocery shop. At the time of inspection, some children were also seen studying outside in the Sun.
A blackboard had been placed outside one of the rooms, while the room itself contained a storage chest and other belongings.
Children also reported that the ceiling fan inside the room was not working, leaving them uncomfortable in the heat.
On Saturday morning, both sides filed complaints against each other at Shivdaspura police station, accusing one another of assault and creating a ruckus.
Both parties have also alleged that police personnel are putting pressure on them.
CJP national spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka alleged that party workers were assaulted in the village on Friday and that their clothes were torn. He demanded the immediate arrest of those responsible.
Ranka further alleged that people from outside the village were brought in for the attack and claimed that some of those involved were later seen with local BJP MLA Kailash Verma. He described the incident as a “pre-planned attack” and alleged that stones were used with the intention of causing serious harm.
According to Ranka, police personnel were not present at the spot despite repeated attempts to contact them. He said the CJP has made videos of the incident public and demanded an impartial investigation by the Rajasthan Police.
Ranka also alleged that Pratap Nagar police were intimidating him and putting pressure on him. He claimed police personnel were questioning CJP workers about him and his family.
In their complaint to the police, villagers alleged that the CJP had disturbed the atmosphere in Rampura.
They claimed that the arrival of a large number of people, allegedly carrying weapons, created fear in the village and that children were now frightened to attend school.
The villagers have denied the allegations made by CJP workers and sought action over what they described as intimidation and disorder.
Villagers said they want the government to reconstruct the school building at the earliest so that classes can resume properly within the village.
Reacting to the developments, Ranka said the CJP would not be intimidated and would continue its ‘School Thik Karo’ campaign over the condition of government schools.
He alleged that Education Minister Madan Dilawar would face embarrassment over the condition of Rajasthan’s schools and said he would personally visit schools again.
Ranka also said the CJP’s demand could now extend beyond school-related issues to seeking Dilawar’s resignation.
Meanwhile, Dilawar posted on social media that continuous efforts were being made to strengthen government schools in Rajasthan, including infrastructure development, construction and repairs, smart classrooms, laboratories and other essential facilities.
The allegations made by both sides have yet to be independently established.
The police investigation and the FIRs filed by the two parties are expected to determine the sequence of events and responsibility for Friday’s clash.
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