Latest news with #ThaneCyberCrimeCell
Time of India
10-05-2025
- Time of India
Thane CDR racket exposed: Fake cop, dismissed constables & leaked telecom data under probe
THANE: The Thane Crime Branch 's investigation into the illegal Call Detail Record (CDR) extraction racket revealed startling details about key accused Sohail Rajput 's operations. This included his elaborate impersonation of a police officer and the use of multiple electronic devices to conduct his illegal activities. Investigators seized five mobile phones and a laptop from Rajput, all of which are currently undergoing examination for further leads into the case and to understand the extent of the racket. Officials are scrutinising his call records to map his network and identify potential collaborators in the racket that has sent shockwaves through the law enforcement community, said a senior police officer. "The probe is in the right direction, and we shall soon arrest the fourth accused in the case, who is the brother of Rajput," a senior police official told TOI on condition of anonymity. Operation Sindoor India's air defence systems shoot down Pak drones in J&K, Punjab & Rajasthan India-Pakistan tensions: Delhi airport issues travel advisory Operation Sindoor: Multiple explosions heard at several Pakistan air bases The investigation revealed that Rajput went to extraordinary lengths to pass himself off as a police officer, using a police nameplate, cap, vehicle siren, and even carrying a fake gun. Police officers believe this false identity may have been used to intimidate targets or gain access to restricted information. 'We are probing him from all angles,' added the officer. The racket came to light last week when two constables from the Thane Cyber Crime Cell , Akash Surve and Harshad Parab, were arrested and subsequently dismissed from service for allegedly leaking sensitive telecom data to private detective agencies for monetary gain. According to police officers, the operation ran since 2022, with the dismissed constables misusing their govt credentials to obtain CDRs and Subscriber Detail Records (SDRs) without proper authorisation. The investigation revealed that the duo collaborated with known offenders, including Sohail Mohammed Rajput and his currently absconding brother Salik Mohammed Rajput , to distribute the illegally obtained data.
Time of India
07-05-2025
- Time of India
Two cops dismissed for running CDR racket
Thane: Two constables attached to the Thane Cyber Crime Cell were dismissed from service after their arrest in an illegal call detail record (CDR) racket. The duo was found to be leaking sensitive telecom data to private detective agencies in exchange for money, according to police. TOI in its edition dated May 7, 2025 had exclusively reported the arrest of the duo for thei involment in the commissioner of police Ashutosh Dumbre confirmed the action, stating, "Such acts will not be tolerated under any possible action will be taken against any police personnel misusing their position."The Crime Branch Unit-1 arrested constables Akash Surve and Harshad Parab for allegedly misusing govt credentials to illegally obtain CDRs and Subscriber Detail Records (SDRs) from telecom providers without the required clearance from senior officials. The operation reportedly began in 2022 and went unnoticed for several to investigators, the constables were working in tandem with history-sheeter Sohel Mohammed Rajput and his brother Salik Mohammed Rajput, who is currently absconding. Sohel reportedly passed the data to Salik, who in turn sold it to detective agencies at a said the constables charged between ₹15,000 and ₹25,000 per CDR, with additional fees for location tracking. In a more serious breach, constable Surve is believed to have given Rajput direct access to a secure internal application typically restricted to law enforcement transactions were traced from Rajput's account to the accused constables and even some of their family members. All three arrested accused were remanded to five days of police custody. Investigators suspect more names could emerge as the probe is not the first such scandal to hit Thane. In 2018, Crime Branch Unit-1 unearthed a similar CDR leak, although that case eventually fizzled out without definitive outcomes.
