Daijiworld Media Network – Patna

Patna, Jul 18: In a major crackdown on a transnational cyber fraud racket, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has provisionally attached properties worth Rs 2.83 cr linked to fake call centres operated by Sagar Yadav and his Kolkata-based firms, Scrapix Consultancy Services Pvt Ltd and Casanovus Reality Pvt Ltd.

According to the Patna zonal office of the ED, the attached assets include land parcels, flats, and fixed deposits allegedly purchased using proceeds of cyber fraud targeting foreign nationals. The probe was launched following an alert from the National Central Bureau (NCB)-India, based on a tip-off from NCB-Ireland involving fraud committed on an Irish national, Carmel Fox.

The case was registered under the “cross-border implication” category of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002. Investigations revealed that the accused ran fake call centres to cheat international victims and routed illicit money to India via platforms such as Western Union, Moneygram, Rewire, Remitly, and cryptocurrencies. The funds were subsequently laundered through peer-to-peer lending platforms including Lenden Club, Lendbox, and Liquiloans.

Of the total assets provisionally attached, two immovable properties bought in the names of the two companies are valued at Rs 2.67 cr, while fixed deposits of Rs 15.75 lac were also seized.

So far, the ED has arrested seven individuals including the alleged mastermind Sagar Yadav. The agency has filed a prosecution complaint and two supplementary complaints against him, his companies, and associates.

Further investigation is underway.