Nagpur Rural Police have unearthed a nationwide fraud racket involving the installation of fake Jio towers, with citizens being duped of crores of rupees. A gang of 40 individuals, operating across multiple states, including Kolkata, has been arrested in connection with the scam.
The investigation began after complaints of large-scale financial transactions from suspicious bank accounts were reported. Acting on these leads, Nagpur Rural Police traced the operations to Kolkata, uncovering a sophisticated multi-layered racket.
Initially, three suspects ;Vaibhav Davande, Kamlesh Gajbhiye, and Alauddin Sheikh were apprehended. Their interrogation led the police to a call center in Kolkata, which was at the heart of the fraud.
The scammers impersonated representatives of Jio, offering lucrative deals to unsuspecting citizens. They promised to install Jio towers on private land, offering incentives such as:
₹20,000 per month in rent.
A security guard job for ₹20,000 for a household member.
An upfront payment of ₹25 lakh before tower installation.
Victims were lured into paying for fake certificates supposedly required for the process, including those from the Pollution Department and the World Health Organization. Each certificate cost ₹25,000 to ₹30,000, with the documents delivered via WhatsApp or courier.
To maintain the illusion, the scammers sent photos of trucks allegedly en route to the victim’s village for tower installation, demanding additional payments for final procedures. Each victim ended up losing up to ₹2 lakh.
The police confirmed the certificates were counterfeit after verifying with the concerned organizations. The fraudsters had also opened bank accounts under ordinary citizens' names to deposit the stolen money, which they later withdrew through ATMs.
The racket operated out of three call centers in Kolkata, employing around 60 trained individuals. The gang is believed to have defrauded citizens of nearly ₹15 crore since the scheme began in 2021.
The masterminds Pranav Mondal, Suvendu Maiti, and Ravindra Banerjee were arrested during a raid in Kolkata. The police have also dismantled the call centers and are continuing the investigation to uncover the full extent of the operation.
Authorities have urged citizens to remain cautious and verify such offers with legitimate companies before making any payments. The case highlights the need for vigilance in the face of increasingly sophisticated fraud schemes.