16 April,2026 12:13 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Harshwardhan Sapkal
Maharashtra Congress president Harshwardhan Sapkal on Thursday alleged the involvement of senior police officials in a multi-crore bogus call centre racket operating in Maharashtra and demanded a comprehensive, high-level investigation into the matter.
Addressing reporters, Sapkal claimed that fraudulent call centres functioning on a model similar to Jamtara were targeting victims globally and siphoning off hundreds of crores of rupees through cyber fraud and financial manipulation.
Sapkal alleged that Datta Karale, currently serving as Deputy Inspector General of Police (Nashik Range), along with two officers of Superintendent of Police rank, had links to the alleged racket.
He claimed that such large-scale operations could not have functioned without support from higher levels of the administration. The officer named in the allegations did not respond to requests for comment.
Referring to cases registered by the Central Bureau of Investigation in August and September 2025, Sapkal said raids conducted in Nashik city and Igatpuri led to the arrest of individuals running fake call centres.
He questioned why the Maharashtra Police failed to detect the operations earlier, asking what action had been taken before central agencies intervened.
Citing findings from the Anti-Corruption Branch of the CBI, Sapkal alleged that operators of these call centres paid bribes in cash, gold, and cryptocurrency to government officials to ensure smooth functioning of the racket.
He claimed the fraud network involved complex financial transactions and raised concerns about possible money laundering through illegal channels.
The Congress leader also alleged a connection between the call centre racket and Ashok Kharat, who has been arrested in separate cases involving serious charges.
Sapkal said certain visuals circulating in the media indicate an association between the accused individuals and the police officer named in the allegations. He called for a detailed probe into any financial or operational links between the two cases.
Sapkal further alleged that the officers in question had previously been posted in districts such as Thane, Palghar, and Raigad, where similar call centre operations were reported.
He claimed that although raids were conducted in those regions, the accused were allegedly released after minimal action. He also alleged that after transfers to the Nashik range, the same networks resumed operations.
The Congress leader questioned why no strict action has been taken despite the seriousness of the allegations and urged Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to seek detailed reports from the CBI.
He called for a thorough probe into the alleged nexus between police officials, call centre operators, and financial networks, including the source of funds and possible circulation of illegal money.
Sapkal also demanded an investigation into whether such rackets were allowed to operate systematically in areas where the accused officers were posted.
