SHILLONG, Sept 1 - A pan-India investigation has begun involving police and Central agencies from across the country, with possible involvement of Interpol, into the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) scam in which US citizens were duped.
Meghalaya Home Minister HDR Lyngdoh said that Meghalaya police is coordinating with Assam and Gujarat police and Enforcement Directorate is also involved in the investigation.
A few days back several call centres were raided in the State and nine persons were arrested from Meghalaya and across India. These accused persons were duping US citizens impersonating as IRS officials.
The modus operandi was simple. The accused used to call the victims in the US and asked them to pay their taxes or face heavy penalty after impersonating as IRS officials of US. They then persuaded them to pay the amount which was channelised through accounts in the US to India through the Hawala channel.
Lyngdoh said, Meghalaya Police has formed a Special Investigating Team headed by City SP, Vivek Syiem which also included eight other members. �We are coordinating with Assam and Gujarat police and also the Enforcement Directorate,� the Home Minister said.
According to officials, the network of this scam has its tentacles spread across the country and overseas. �We would also look for coordinating with the Interpol as the investigation proceeds,� he added.
Stating that �nobody is above the law�, Lyngdoh said that everyone would be questioned in due course of time. Three officials from SS Netcom that is reportedly owned by Tura MP, Conrad Sangma, have also been arrested in the scam.
