The Kolkata Police arrested six people, including five women, after busting a fake call centre in the Dalhousie area of central Kolkata that allegedly cheated people across the country by promising lifetime internet access under a fictitious Pradhan Mantri Wi-Fi Yojana, a senior police officer said on Thursday.

The arrests followed allegations that the accused were collecting money from unsuspecting people by posing as government representatives and offering them benefits under the purported scheme. Several mobile phones, laptops and a massive database containing customer information were seized during the raid.

Investigators suspect that the fraudsters cheated people of crores of rupees through the operation. The police have launched a detailed probe to establish the extent of the fraud, identify other members of the racket and trace the money collected from victims.

According to the police officer, the operators of the fake call centre claimed that a new Pradhan Mantri Wi-Fi Yojana had been launched by the government. They allegedly told prospective customers that by paying a small amount as the first instalment, they would be entitled to use Wi-Fi services anywhere in the country for the rest of their lives.

The attractive offer reportedly persuaded several people to part with their money. Preliminary investigations have revealed that the alleged victims were from different parts of the country, including a large number from Kolkata.

The accused allegedly contacted people over the phone, introduced themselves as government representatives and explained the purported benefits of the scheme. They followed a prepared script to convince customers to make payments, police said.

Acting on a tip-off received from a confidential source, the Kolkata Police detectives raided the call centre at Government Place (East) in the Dalhousie area on Wednesday. Six people, including five women, were arrested during the operation.

Krishnendu Saha, the manager of the call centre, is among those arrested.

During the search, investigators recovered several mobile phones, laptops, a large customer database and a written script allegedly used by the telecallers to lure prospective victims.

The police are questioning the arrested persons to ascertain how the racket operated, how many people were cheated and whether other individuals or organisations were involved in running the operation. Investigators are also examining the seized electronic devices and customer records to identify more victims.

Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka arrived at the Delhi Police Crime Branch office in Rajouri Garden on Thursday for questioning in connection with the Jantar Mantar protest case.

Das and Ranka were summoned by the Delhi Police to appear for questioning on Thursday in connection with the protest case. They were asked to appear before the Delhi Police Crime Branch office in Rajouri Garden at noon.

Das and Ranka had been summoned by the Delhi Police earlier in October as well. However, they skipped the summons and later sought more time to appear before the Crime Branch for questioning.

The protest cases against the CJP leaders were transferred to the Crime Branch in October. The cases are in connection with the incident on October 13, when Das, Ranka and Ajinkya Shinde, along with 11 others, trespassed into Jantar Mantar, which has been de-notified as the designated protesting site.

All were detained by the Delhi Police. While Shinde was released on bail bond, Das and Ranka remained in judicial custody for a week.

The CJP members were protesting against alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and raised slogans against Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar.

On October 21, Das and Ranka were released from Tihar Jail following a week in judicial custody, after submitting written undertakings before a Special Executive Magistrate (SEM), assuring that they would maintain peace and refrain from calling for protests at Jantar Mantar until the site is de-notified in accordance with law.

SEM Ritu Raj directed the release of the two activists after they furnished personal bonds and surety bonds of Rs 50,000 each until the conclusion of the inquiry in connection with the Jantar Mantar trespassing case.

In their written undertakings, both activists promised not to commit any breach of peace and expressed full faith in the judiciary and all its instruments, including the SEM court.

The SEM court observed that the immediate measures required under Section 135(3) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) to prevent a breach of peace or disturbance of public tranquillity could be adequately secured through the execution of bonds, supported by the written undertakings.

Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka have been summoned by the Delhi Police to appear for questioning on Thursday in connection with the Jantar Mantar protest case.

The CJP members have been asked to appear before the Delhi Police Crime Branch office in Rajouri Garden at noon.

Das and Ranka had been summoned by the Delhi Police earlier in October as well. However, they skipped the summons and later sought more time to appear before the Crime Branch for questioning.

The protest cases against the CJP leaders were transferred to the Crime Branch in October. The cases are in connection with the incident on October 13, when Das, Ranka and Ajinkya Shinde, along with 11 others, trespassed into Jantar Mantar, which has been de-notified as the designated protesting site.

All were detained by the Delhi Police. While Shinde was released on bail bond, Das and Ranka remained in judicial custody for a week.

The CJP members were protesting against alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and raised slogans against Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar.

On October 21, Das and Ranka were released from Tihar Jail following a week in judicial custody, after submitting written undertakings before a Special Executive Magistrate (SEM), assuring that they would maintain peace and refrain from calling for protests at Jantar Mantar until the site is de-notified in accordance with law.

SEM Ritu Raj directed the release of the two activists after they furnished personal bonds and surety bonds of Rs 50,000 each until the conclusion of the inquiry in connection with the Jantar Mantar trespassing case.

In their written undertakings, both activists promised not to commit any breach of peace and expressed full faith in the judiciary and all its instruments, including the SEM court.

The SEM court observed that the immediate measures required under Section 135(3) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) to prevent a breach of peace or disturbance of public tranquillity could be adequately secured through the execution of bonds, supported by the written undertakings.