Shiv Sena’s Ex-Mayor in Cyber Fraud

• Former Mayor Lalit Kolhe in Call Center Scam

• Jalgaon Fake Call Center Racket Exposed

• ⁠Laptop Loot: Jalgaon’s Call Center Scam

Shiv Sena’s ex-mayor Lalit Kolhe was arrested in Jalgaon for for operating an international fake call center from his farmhouse. Police seized 31 laptops in a multi-lakh cyber fraud targeting foreigners and exposed a sophisticated cybercrime syndicate defrauding through impersonation scams.

In a significant crackdown, the Jalgaon Police have unearthed a sophisticated international cybercrime syndicate operating from a farmhouse linked to former mayor Lalit Vijayrao Kolhe. A raid on the L.K. Farm House on Mamurabad Road led to the seizure of 31 laptops and the arrest of eight individuals, including Kolhe, for allegedly orchestrating a multi-lakh rupee online scam targeting Indian and foreign nationals. This investigation by the Sprouts News Investigation Team (SIT) exposes how a political figure’s property was used to host a fake call center, raising serious questions about the nexus between crime and local politics.

Click Here To Download the News Attachment

The Police Raid: Uncovering a High-Tech Racket in a Rural Farmhouse

Acting on a tip about an illegal online call center and betting operation, the Jalgaon police conducted a meticulous six-hour raid on the secluded farmhouse located just 10 kilometers from the city. Initial findings by cyber experts revealed two laptops used to contact and defraud foreign citizens. The operation escalated as police uncovered a full-scale illegal setup, ultimately confiscating 31 laptops, 7 mobile phones, and other crucial electronic evidence. The Sprouts News Investigation Team can confirm that the facility was staffed by 25-30 individuals, including multi-lingual young women and men from Kolkata and Mumbai, who were trained to deceive international targets.

The Modus Operandi: How the International Scam Operated

The syndicate operated by impersonating multinational companies to gain the trust of their targets. Using the seized laptops and communication equipment, the staff at the fake call center would contact individuals abroad, executing sophisticated online frauds that resulted in losses worth millions of rupees. Of the 25-30 staff members present, seven were immediately taken into custody. Police sources indicate that other employees had left for a weekend holiday and were expected to return on Monday, suggesting the operation was ongoing and well-established.

Also Read: Mumbai Police Charge Marcellus Investment CFO in ₹1.18 Cr Fraud.

Related Article: Shiv Sena Official Booked in Palghar Job Scam Case.

Political Fallout and The Arrest of Former Mayor Lalit Kolhe

The arrest of former mayor Lalit Kolhe, who is currently active in the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, has sent shockwaves through Jalgaon’s political circles. The primary accused, Kolhe, was the owner of the farmhouse being used as a criminal hub. The other arrested individuals have been identified as Narendra Chand Agarwala, Rakesh Chandu Agarwala, Shahbaz Alam, Shakeeb Alam (all four from Kolkata, West Bengal), Jishan Nuri, Hashir Rashid, and a cook named Alibhai who was also complicit in the crime. Three additional suspects from Mumbai—Akbar, Adil, and Imran—who allegedly managed the operations, have been identified.

Ongoing Investigation and Systemic Implications

Following the revelations, senior police officials, including the Police Superintendent and Deputy Superintendent, took direct control of the investigation. The case highlights a growing trend of cybercriminals using rural and semi-urban properties to run sophisticated international scams away from the scrutiny of metropolitan police forces. The Sprouts News Investigation Team will continue to monitor this case as the probe deepens, seeking to uncover the full extent of the financial fraud and its potential connections. This bust serves as a critical alert about the evolving landscape of organized cybercrime in India.