Fake call centre: Well-connected businessman among 27 nabbed in Ludhiana

Nikhil Bhardwaj
Tribune News Service
Ludhiana, July 1

After the yesterday raid on a fake call centre which was being operated from Chandan Towers on the Pakhowal road, the count of arrested persons reached 27. The arrested persons include a businessman, Somal Sood, who is having close proximity with senior police officers and top businessmen.

Accused somal rose to fame instantly

Somal, resident of the Islamian school road, who once had no major income source, instantly rose to fame. Now he owns a showroom of Airtel company.

Somal, resident of the Islamian school road, who once had no major income source, instantly gathered fame. Now he owns a showroom of Airtel company. He had developed links with senior police officials, businessmen and other prominent personalities of the city.

Yesterday, when the police brought the accused to CIA premises, some senior police officers and big businessmen had also allegedly gathered outside the CIA office to save Somal from police action. Senior cops had allegedly even approached Ludhiana police officials in this regard. Some senior politicians had also approached the police to save Somal from arrest, but the Ludhiana police didn’t kneel down to any pressure.

“Somal owned the building where the call centre was running hence he had given an assurance to the call centre owners to run the centre without the fear of any police action. The questioning of Somal may lead the arrest of some big businessmen or cops who might be hand in glove with Somal in this illegal operation,” a senior police official said.

The call centre was busted by Additional DCP, Crime, Rupinder Kaur Bhatti and her team.

Commissioner of Police, Ludhiana, Rakesh Agrawal today conducted a press conference regarding the matter.

Agrawal said call centre was being operated by Lakhan Abrol, Yatin, Cain Masih and Titus in the tower owned by Somal Sood, all of whom have been arrested along with 22 others, including four Africa nationals, who were employees at the call centre.

The police have also recovered Rs 14.5 lakh of hawala money, 22 desktop computers, nine laptops and 31 mobile phones along with accessories, including LAN servers, Wi-fi routers and Wi-fi switches.

The police have also found incriminating evidence of foreign payment gateways, fraud bank accounts and data of lakhs of UK income taxpayers. The police are now ascertaining the total fraud done by the accused.