Thane police search for another IRS scam accused

Mumbai: The Thane crime branch which is probing the call centres’ scam, has begun search for a man named Jugal Senani suspected of having played a role in transactions linked to extortion of money from US nationals in the name of US tax and immigration authorities. Details on Senani’s alleged role were given to the police by an accused in the case, Ashish Choudhary, a hawala dealer arrested in Delhi and brought to Thane by the police Tuesday night.

According to police officials, Choudhary in Delhi met the scam’s alleged mastermind, Sagar Thakkar, who was arrested in April after he arrived in Mumbai from Dubai. It was a casual meeting at the time but later changed into a business partnership when Thakkar allegedly asked Choudhary to help him fleece US-based victims by redeeming iTunes’ cards bought by them. Nearly 70 per cent transactions related to redeeming of iTunes’ cards purchased by victims were allegedly handled by Choudhary on behalf of Thakkar. Choudhary was also in touch with Reema Thakkar for all financial transactions but he said he did not know where Reema was during the police interrogation. Reema is also wanted in the case for her alleged role but cannot be traced.

Choudhary took the help of a Chinese national, Ben, who is suspected of being a hawala trader.