We have some info on mastermind: Top cop

While the Thane police has busted the racketeers who successfully ran the operation of selling call detail records (CDR) for some time, the main man said to be the brain behind the operation is on the loose. Thane Police Commissioner Parambir Singh tells DNA’s Somendra Sharma about the extent of the syndicate, which thrived in connivance with policemen, and how far they are from nabbing the wanted man.

What was your lead in the case? How did you get the first clue?

We had received information from sources that a big racket is being operated which involves obtaining CDRs and selling them illegally. While getting started on the case, some names cropped up. And we first arrested detective Makesh Pandian, who was caught-red-handed. We had sent a decoy and he fell for the bait. He arrived in Kalwa with a hard copy of CDRs the decoy had asked for.

A similar ring busted by Mumbai police last year pointed to the role of a police officer from Jaipur who provided CDRs to Saurabh Sahu in Delhi, who passed them on to detectives across the country. Does your probe reveal involvement of any police officer in this case? Has the officer been identified?

We have some information about the main accused in the case, Saurabh Sahu from Delhi. As per our probe, some policemen from Delhi could also be involved. We have sought details from service providers. Once we get them, we will come to a definite conclusion. We have already arrested a police constable from Yavatmal who was involved in providing CDRs to an arrested accused  in the case, Ajinkya Nagargoje.

The case has revealed the lengths detectives can go to, to serve clients. Please comment.

So far, there hasn’t been any indication of something more nefarious like blackmailing and extortion.

How deep do you think the case goes?

It is a nationwide racket with links to Delhi and some other states. Hundreds of people from various part of the country helped to make it happen.