Call centre scam suspect flees country

mumbai — When the teams of Crime Branch of Thane police were busy in raids at fake call centre in connection with the call centre scam, its mastermind Sagar alias Shaggy Thakkar was on his way to flee the country in early hours of October 5, officials said.

Crime branch teams raided seven call centres at Mira Road in adjoining Thane district, in the multimillion scam involving cheating of US citizens by posing as officials of US Tax Department.

Police raids were conducted on the night of October 4-5. About 70 directors and key persons of these call centres were arrested and 700 employees were detained.

During the interrogation of arrested directors, police got the name of Sagar alias Shaggy. However, by that time, Shaggy had left the country on October 5 before police could catch him.

Police issued a LOC (Look Out Circular) against Shaggy on October 7, two days after his escape, officials said. As the investigation started, a key accused and Shaggy’s elder sister, Reema, fled the country from Delhi on October 8.

Police are now trying to get information from immigration authorities about how both the key accused fled the country. — PTI