Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): Sub inspector Pawan Raghuvanshi posted at Aishbag police station took Rs 5 lakh from the call centre operator Afzal Khan for not taking action against him.
After an internal probe launched following directives of police commissioner Harinarayanchari Mishra, a police team under ACP Surabhi Meena raided SI Raghuvanshi’s residence in Piplani and seized the cash on Wednesday.
An FIR has been registered against Raghuvanshi and Afzal Khan’s brother-in-law Mobeen who offered the deal. Police sources said Rs 5 lakh recovered from SI Raghivanshi’s house was given as first instalment by Afzal Khan in return of not taking action against him.
Police officials said that an internal probe revealed that Raghuvanshi was offered Rs 25 lakh by Afzal for not taking action against him and his call centre.
Questioning Khan revealed that TI Jitendra Garhwal had knowledge of the deal. TI Garhwal and SI Pawan were earlier accused of demanding cash from a drug peddler and a gambling den operator. Raghuvanshi was attached to police lines three days ago after it came to knowledge of police officials that he took cash for not taking action against Afzal and booking his son Arman under minor sections despite evidence that activities at the call centre were suspicious.
An inquiry was also initiated against the sub inspector, which revealed that he was in contact with the accused. On February 23, police had raided the office of Ideology ATS at Prabhat Crossing where a call centre was being run by Afzal, his son Arman and daughter Sahiba Khan. Police had seized 87 computers, SIM cards, phones and modem. Police team also found a printer from SI Raghuvanshi’s house, which was seized during the raid at the call centre.
Moreover, 29 employees were found at the spot. Investigations revealed that Khan’s bank accounts were used for cyber frauds worth several crores of rupees in Maharashtra and other states. Seven days after the raid, Amit Vishwas came to Bhopal from Maharashtra and lodged a complaint on Monday following which Afzal Khan was arrested. Eight of his employees were also arrested on Tuesday. His daughter Sahiba and other suspects in the case are still at large. Police are scanning details of transactions of 40 bank accounts. Three of the bank accounts are in name of Khan while others are in name of his employees and other persons. Khan was running the call centre for past four years and has earned cash and properties worth crores of rupees.
Four including TI suspended
Police commissioner on Wednesday suspended four policemen posted at Aishbag police station including TI Jitendra Singh Garhwal. The action has been taken for their suspicious role in delaying action against Afzal Khan. The call centre was used by Khan to dupe hundreds of people across the country of cash worth several crores on pretext of hefty returns in online share trading. Police officials said suspended cops are TI Jitendra Singh Garhwal, sub inspectors Pawan Raghuvanshi, Manoj Singh and head constable Dharmendra. Further enquiry is on.
