Hyderabad: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has arrested Mohd Irfan Ansari under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act in its probe into a fake call-centre syndicate accused of cheating US citizens and routing the proceeds through cryptocurrency, Angadia operators and bank accounts.In its grounds of arrest, the ED described Ansari as one of the principal controllers of the syndicate and said he admitted during questioning on Aug 10 that he had been operating fake call centres since around 2017, with average monthly collections of $60,000-$70,000. He estimated his personal profit from the operations at ₹3-4 crore, according to the agency.Call centre operated from MadhapurThe PMLA case stems from two Madhapur police FIRs registered in Aug 2023 where tele-callers allegedly impersonated govt officials, Amazon representatives and others to cheat foreign nationals.The ED said Ansari admitted operating ARJ Solutions, from whose Madhapur-based premises one such call centre functioned. Employees examined during the probe identified him as an owner or key operator of call centres in Hyderabad, Visakhapatnam and Indore, the agency said.The agency alleged that gift cards obtained from US victims were redeemed through overseas vendors, converted into cryptocurrency and later encashed in India through crypto traders, informal cash channels and bank accounts.Funds routed to associates, bakeriesBank analysis showed transfers of about ₹55.1 lakh to Aakib Ghanchi, ₹27 lakh to Divyang Raval and ₹48 lakh to Vikas Nimar from Ansari’s accounts, ED said.The agency also alleged that accounts of relatives and associates were used to route funds. Crypto exchanger Sumit Agarwal told ED that he encashed cryptocurrency, including Bitcoin, for Ansari and credited the proceeds into accounts linked to Ansari and his family and businesses.ED said proceeds were also invested in bakery businesses, including Kings & Queens Bakery, Eliza Bakeries and Super Natraj Food Products, and used for machinery and other assets. It also cited an Audi allegedly purchased in another person’s name but used by Ansari.The agency said substantial proceeds, crypto wallets, overseas processors, hawala and Angadia channels and assets are yet to be traced.
