'Call money' racket: 19 held in East Godavari, Rs 23 lakh seized

Rajahmundry: Nineteen people have been arrested in connection with the 'call money' racket and over Rs 23 lakh cash seized from them, police said on Friday.

The 19 people were arrested from different areas of the district last evening during raids and searches conducted on unlicensed businessmen who were collecting high interest from the borrowers, Rajahmundry (Urban) Superintendent of Police S Harikrishna said.

During the raids, police also seized Rs 23,20,500 cash, 447 signed blank promissory notes, 80 signed blank cheques, 60 blanked signed white papers, a General Power of Attorney and 26 other miscellaneous documents, the SP said.

'Call money' refers to a mode of private lending where loan is made available instantly at borrower's doorstep but at exorbitant rates of interest, and the lender can demand repayment anytime over a call.

"The station housing officer and DSP of Rajahmundry Urban district limits conducted surprise raids and searches on call money businessmen and unlicensed businessmen who are collecting high interest from borrowers," he said.

A total of 18 cases have been registered against the 19 accused who were produced in a local court today which remanded them in 14-day police custody.

The arrested persons include two rowdy-sheeters. Besides, two more cases of alleged harassment by 'call
money' operators were also registered on a complaint lodged by some people and an inquiry was on in them, Harikrishna said.

Out of the Rs 23,20,500 seized from the arrested persons, Rs 18 lakh was handed over to the Income Tax department as the accused could not show any valid documents of the money in their possession, he said.

The SP said the victims of 'call money' rackets should inform police about such operators and assured them that their identity will be kept secret while police will initiate action against the culprits.

Notably, the 'call money' racket issue rocked the Andhra Pradesh Assembly yesterday leading to its adjournment and suspension of two YSR Congress MLAs for two days even as police picked up promoters of two private finance companies in Visakhapatnam in connection with the scam.

The state government has decided to order a judicial probe into the illegal private lending and alleged sexual exploitation of women borrowers in some cases.

So far, over 80 call money operators have been arrested across the state, of whom 27 had links allegedly with YSR Congress, six with TDP and three with CPI, according to Information Minister Palle Raghunadha Reddy.