ED arrests retired Army man in ₹200 crore fake call centre money laundering case
HYDERABAD: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday arrested retired Army man Tarachand Nimar. The agency alleged that he played a major role in laundering money earned through a fake call centre racket that targeted foreign nationals, especially people in the United States, as reported by TOI.
The ED estimated the proceeds of crime in the case at around ₹200 crore.
Properties and vehicles bought with illegal money, says ED
Tarachand is the father of Vikas Kumar Nimar, also known as Misty. The ED identified Vikas as a key operator and beneficiary of the syndicate.
According to the agency, Tarachand handled and hid the illegal money. He allegedly used the funds to buy commercial properties, land, shops and vehicles.
The ED arrested Vikas last month for allegedly cheating foreign nationals.
The money laundering probe began after FIRs were registered at Madhapur police station in 2023. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) also registered a case against the syndicate. It accused the group of criminal conspiracy and cheating through illegal call centres.
Victims tricked through fake technical support messages
The ED said the syndicate sent fake emails with malware alerts and technical support messages to foreign nationals.
The emails asked victims to call toll-free numbers. The callers then posed as representatives of well-known companies. They convinced victims to pay for fake technical support services using gift cards.
The ED alleged that the accused converted the gift cards into cryptocurrency. They later converted the digital assets into Indian currency through hawala channels, cash settlements and bank transactions. The syndicate then distributed the money among its members.
The agency also alleged that Tarachand used bank accounts belonging to family members and dummy account holders to hide the money trail. It claimed he joined the network after retiring from the Army.
The ED further alleged that Tarachand tried to influence witnesses and stop them from cooperating with investigators. It also claimed he gave conflicting explanations about the source of his wealth.
The agency booked Tarachand under Sections 3 and 4 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) on charges of money laundering.
