We suspect that he might have contacted several detectives across the country in a similar fashion: Crime branch officer
When the Mumbai Crime Branch arrested two detectives for allegedly selling call data records (CDRs), their biggest fear was whether these CDRs included those of any VVIPs and of anti-social elements gaining access to them. The probe, however, turned up fairly garden variety reasons: most of the CDR seekers wanted to check on their partners' suspected extra-marital affairs, or keep an eye on their children.
On January 31, a team of the Crime Branch's Bandra unit had arrested private detectives Laxman Thakur, 30, of Juhu Koliwada, and Kirtesh Kavi, 44, of Malad, for allegedly obtaining CDRs of people and selling them to interested parties.
"When we interrogated Thakur and Kavi, they said that most of those approaching them wanted to spy on their partners or wanted to know whether their children were into drugs or are bunking lectures," said a Crime Branch officer, on condition of anonymity.
The duo used to charge heavily for the services and would try to convince the customers with CDR proof. "At least 500 Mumbaikars had approached them for CDRs. As many as 134 CDRs were recovered from their computers," said the officer.
According to the police, Thakur used to purchase CDR from Kavi for Rs 25,000 and sell it for Rs 50,000. Kavi told the police that he used to buy CDRs from Delhi-based Saurabh Sahu for Rs 15,000. The police seized three months' CDRs, three laptops, an iPad, and four mobile phones from Thakur and Kavi. Sahu is currently untraceable.
Investigations revealed that Sahu, allegedly the mastermind, had been procuring the CDRs using his contacts in the police. Delhi Police had eight months earlier arrested a Jaipur Police sub-inspector (PSI), along with Sahu, for providing similar CDRs illegally.
He said that after coming out from jail, Sahu contacted Kavi and asked him if he required CDRs for his detective agency. "Sahu got contact details of Kavi from the internet. We suspect that he might have contacted several detectives across the country in a similar fashion. Also, a policeman's involvement in this case, too, cannot be ruled out," said the Crime Branch officer. The Mumbai Crime Branch team was headed by inspectors Mahesh Desai, Rajesh Padvi and Nitin Patil.
One more private eye —identified as Shailesh Manjrekar, who runs a detective agency in Goregaon — has is wanted for his suspected involvement in the racket. Meanwhile, a local court on Monday extended police custody of Thakur and Kavi till February 8.
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