Call Details Record Scam: Thane Crime Branch arrest mastermind from Delhi

MUMBAI: The Thane crime branch have arrested Saurabh Sahu (41), the mastermind of the illegal procurement of Call Details Records scam on Monday. Sahu has been arrested from Delhi by the anti-extortion cell of the Thane crime branch. He was produced before the Thane Magistrate court on Monday and has been remanded to police custody until June 29. On January 31, the Thane crime branch had arrested private detectives Laxman Thakur (30) from Juhu Koliwada and Kirtesh Kavi (44) from Malad for obtaining CDRs of victims and selling them to third parties. During interrogation, it was found that Thakur and Kavi used to sell CDRs to clients who wanted to spy on their partners, spouses and business partners. Thakur used to purchase CDR from Kavi for Rs 25,000 and sell it for Rs 50,000. Kavi and Thakur were operating Globe Detective Agency at Vashi. According to Abhishek Trimukhe, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Thane crime branch, "The accused Kirtesh Kavi used to purchase CDRs from the accused Saurabh Sahu for Rs 15,000. We had seized 134 CDRs, three laptops, an iPad, and four mobile phones from Thakur and Kavi." Trimukhe confirmed, during the investigations, Sahu's role had cropped up. "All the accused that have been arrested so far have revealed to us that they had purchased the CDRs from Sahu." The Delhi Police had arrested Sahu last year in another Call Details Records scam. After being released from jail, Sahu contacted Kavi and asked him if he required CDRs for his detective agency. Sahu got contact details of Kavi from the internet. Sahu was arrested by the Delhi police in 2016. A total 16 accused, including 11 private detectives have been arrested so far in the scam. Sahu also owns a garments business at Ghaziabad.