Ahmedabad: In an effort to crack down on illegal call center operations, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) launched a large-scale raid in Ahmedabad, deploying over 350 officers across 35 locations. More than 30 individuals were detained for questioning, with preliminary findings indicating that these employees were engaged in fraudulent schemes, targeting US citizens by extorting money from those with pending loan installments or expiring insurance terms.

The investigation was triggered by complaints from American authorities, leading to the FBI arresting 10 individuals involved in similar scams. The issue was escalated to the Prime Minister’s Office in Delhi, prompting a nationwide investigation by the CBI. Initially, 140 individuals were arrested in Thane, and the investigation was later extended to Ahmedabad when servers linked to the operation were traced back to the city.

The probe has now expanded to other cities, including Visakhapatnam, Kolkata, and Hyderabad, with authorities seizing crucial digital evidence that could reveal more details about the fraudulent operations.

In a related controversy, a viral video leaked by an associate of an MLA suggests that call centers in Ahmedabad were paying large sums to the police commissioner’s office. Despite this, no action was taken by the local police, leading a team from Thane, led by ACP Thackeray, to investigate the matter. It is alleged that a call center employee tasked with delivering these payments to senior police officers went into hiding after the inquiry began. Additionally, a police inspector is accused of actively encouraging call center experts to establish operations along the Ahmedabad-Gandhinagar border.