Kolkata9 hours agoAuthor: Tirthankar Das
In a series of coordinated operations against financial fraud and cybercrime, Kolkata and Bidhannagar Police busted an alleged hawala network and two fake call centres operating from different parts of the city. A total of 25 people were arrested, while police seized over ₹2 crore in cash, cash-counting machines, mobile phones, SIM cards, fake documents and other incriminating materials.
Over ₹2 crore recovered in New Town hawala raid
In the largest operation, a joint team from the Bidhannagar Police’s Cyber Crime Police Station, Detective Department, and Techno City Police Station raided a house on Street No. 786 in New Town on Monday afternoon, following a tip-off.
Upon entering the premises, officers found stacks of cash bundles allegedly linked to a hawala operation. Seven people, including a woman, were arrested from the spot.
Police recovered:
- More than ₹2 crore in cash
- Multiple high-speed cash-counting machines
- Four cars
- One scooter
Preliminary interrogation revealed that the rented house had allegedly been operating as a hawala centre for several days. Most of those arrested are reportedly from other states. Further investigation is underway to trace the larger network.
Fake dating service call centre busted in Rajdanga
In a separate operation, the Cyber Wing of the Detective Department raided an alleged fake call centre operating in the Rajdanga area under Kasba Police Station.
According to police, the call centre lured customers by promising dating services and then allegedly defrauded them by collecting payments without providing the promised services.
During the raid, officers arrested eight people—six women and two men.
Police recovered:
- Around 30 mobile phones
- More than 50 SIM cards
- Several registers and documents
A key suspect, believed to be supervising the operation, is currently at large. Police teams are continuing raids to arrest him.
Port Division cracks fake instant loan racket
In another major breakthrough, the Port Division’s Cyber Cell, along with Metiabruz Police Station, busted a fake call centre allegedly running an instant loan scam from two locations in Bowbazar.
The case was registered after a Metiabruz resident alleged she was cheated of ₹25,450 by fraudsters posing as employees of Tata Capital Finance. The accused allegedly promised her an instant loan of ₹2.18 lakh at a low interest rate and used forged company documents and a fake demand draft to gain her trust.
Police said the victim was persuaded to make 20 separate payments towards processing fees, insurance, documentation, and other charges, but never received the promised loan. Following technical analysis by the Cyber Cell, police raided premises at 9/1 Malanga Lane and 275 B.B. Ganguly Street in Bowbazar.
Nine people were arrested during the operation. Based on their interrogation, police later arrested another accused, Sudhir Mahato (25), from Patuli for allegedly arranging mule bank accounts used to receive fraudulent transactions.
Items seized
- Police recovered:
- 48 keypad mobile phones
- One smartphone
- One laptop
- Six SIM cards
- Two fake rubber stamps
- Notebooks containing prospective victims’ contact details
- Calling scripts allegedly used to deceive victims
According to Additional Commissioner of Police (Crime) Kunal Aggarwal, further investigation is underway to identify other members of the syndicates, trace the money trail, and apprehend absconding accused.
