The Enforcement Directorate announced on Friday the arrest of an individual at Jaipur airport, who stands implicated in a money laundering case associated with the alleged defrauding of US citizens through counterfeit loan-giving call centers operating from India.
The apprehended individual, Rafiq Khan, was taken into custody this week under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). According to the federal agency, Khan, who was attempting to flee to Sharjah in the UAE, was intercepted at Jaipur airport.
It has been revealed that Khan played a role as one of the co-conspirators in several fraudulent call centers that targeted US citizens by offering loans at purportedly discounted interest rates. These call centers operated under the guise of legitimacy but were, in reality, part of an elaborate scheme to deceive unsuspecting victims.
In earlier developments about this case, the Enforcement Directorate had apprehended individuals namely Shahanawaz Ahmed Jeelani, Vipin Kumar Sharma, and Viraj Singh Kuntal, all of whom are currently in judicial custody. A charge sheet under the PMLA was filed against them in August 2023, as confirmed by the investigating agency.
The roots of the Enforcement Directorate's investigation can be traced back to multiple FIRs filed by the Anti-terrorist Squad (ATS) and the Special Operations Group (SOG) of the Rajasthan Police.
The agency further elaborated on the modus operandi employed by the accused, describing a meticulously orchestrated plan to defraud foreign nationals through the establishment of virtual call centers and the opening of bank accounts in the USA. These operations were conducted from various locations including Jaipur, Mohali, Mathura, and other parts of India.
The ill-gotten gains from these fraudulent activities were channeled through a network of Indian and foreign bank accounts under the control of the accused individuals and shell companies associated with them. Subsequently, the proceeds of the crime were laundered and invested in properties in an attempt to legitimize their origins and evade detection.
