Those arrested have been identified as Vinod Singh, 32, a resident of Bhandup who works in a security agency; Aniket Pitroda, 24, a resident of Wagle Estate in Thane and a garage mechanic and Bhandup resident Sunil Gupta, 35.
An anonymous call received by the Cyber Crime Investigation Cell (CCIC) helped city police burst an escort services racket operating through internet. The police on Thursday arrested three persons, who they believe duped several people claiming that they provide Indian and foreign women for escort services.
Those arrested have been identified as Vinod Singh, 32, a resident of Bhandup who works in a security agency; Aniket Pitroda, 24, a resident of Wagle Estate in Thane and a garage mechanic and Bhandup resident Sunil Gupta, 35.
According to the police, around 2pm on April 1, an unknown person called up the CCIC office and informed that a few persons are providing mobile numbers on the internet for escort services and duping people. The caller also informed that he himself was duped by them. But he did not reveal his identity and requested the police to take action in this regard.
The police then searched on the internet to ascertain whether the information provided was genuine and they initiated their probe once it got confirmed that such a racket was indeed operating.
The did a Google search for information on the said mobile numbers and learnt that they were registered on different websites. Screen-shots of the results were taken by the police for investigation purpose. Apart from the numbers, the police also came across content stating if called on the said numbers, women would be supplied as per demand.
The content claimed that women from Gujarat, Kerala, Saudi Arabia and Russia would also be provided. The websites also contained nude photographs of men and women. A case was then registered in this regard.
"On inquiry, we found out that the mobile numbers were being used by a few people from Bhandup. On Thursday, the trio were caught and we seized the mobile numbers which were put up on the internet. The trio also admitted that they had uploaded the numbers on the internet, attended calls from customers and induced them to deposit money in various bank accounts. We are trying to figure out since when they have been operating, how many they have duped and the amount they collected through this fraud," said a police officer, requesting anonymity.
The police have also learnt that the accused persons have procured the SIM cards using bogus identities. The police have seized six mobile phones, eleven SIM cards and Rs49,500 from them.
The accused persons have been booked under sections 419 (impersonation), 420 (cheating), 292 (2) (a) (sale, etc., of obscene books, etc.), 465 (forgery), 467 (forgery of valuable security), 468 (forgery for the purpose of cheating), 471 (using as genuine a forged document) and sections 67A (punishment for publishing or transmitting of material containing sexually explicit act, etc. in electronic form) and 66D (whoever by means of any communication device or computer resource cheats by impersonation) of the Information Technology Act.
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