Chandigarh / Panchkula: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has arrested Mahesh Chandrashekhar Shetye for allegedly operating a fake technical support call centre and laundering the illicit proceeds generated from cheating US citizens. Shetye is the owner of M/s Certiszep Innovations (OPC) Private Limited, which operated from the IT Park in Sector 22, Panchkula.
The arrest was made on November 29, 2025 under provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002. The ED produced him before the Special Court, Panchkula, which has remanded Shetye to seven-day ED custody until December 6, 2025 for further investigation.
Used Names of Popular U.S. Companies to Lure Victims
According to ED, the racket impersonated Netflix, Amazon, Spectrum, AT&T and several other US-based corporations. The call-centre employees posed as technical support executives, convincing unsuspecting US consumers that their devices, bank information, or personal data was compromised. They created a panic and then offered to “resolve” the fabricated issues in exchange for service payments.
Payments extracted through modern digital modes
Each victim was cheated of anywhere between USD 100 and USD 5,000. The money was fraudulently collected through: Zelle, Remitly, Bitcoin, CashApp gift cards. Funds were then channelled into India through hawala networks, bypassing legal financial systems.
Shetye Identified as Key Operator
The investigation established that Shetye was the main mastermind behind the operations, supported by associates Surbhi Duhan, Rishabh Duhan, and Rahul Chookar. The ED found that the company operated without mandatory licenses or regulatory approvals:
- No DoT (Department of Telecommunications) registration
- No legal client onboarding agreements
- No compliance with telecom or outsourcing norms
Employees working at the centre have identified Shetye as a key operator and decision-maker of the illegal setup.
Proceeds Routed Through Fake Firms and Family Accounts
The ED probe revealed that the Proceeds of Crime (POC) were brought into India in cash through hawala and then layered using various bank accounts:
- Deposited into Shetye’s personal accounts
- Moved into the accounts of his sole proprietorship Mack & Kris Enterprises
- Further layered using bank accounts of his mother, Shalini Shetye
- Used for property and vehicle purchases, investments, and personal expenditure
Multiple transactions through third-party shell entities were designed specifically to obscure the illicit origin of funds. The agency said that POC worth several crores have been traced so far.
Based on Three Police FIRs
The ED action stems from the following FIRs registered in Haryana:
- Cyber Crime Police Station, Panchkula — FIR No. 100/2025
- Cyber Crime Police Station, Panchkula — FIR No. 101/2025
- Chandimandir Police Station — FIR No. 344/2025
These FIRs alleged that the accused were running illegal call centres in IT Park and defrauding foreign nationals using VoIP dialers and remote-access software.
More Arrests Likely, Assets Under Scanner
Senior ED officials said further arrests are expected as the investigation expands:
“We are closely tracking financial trails and associated entities.
Properties and bank accounts linked to the accused have been identified and are being examined.”
The agency is now scrutinizing digital evidence, employee statements, and hawala conduits used for routing foreign money back into India.
A Growing Global Concern
Experts warn that as India strengthens its position in global IT and support services, criminal syndicates are exploiting this reputation by setting up: Fraud call centres, Tech-support scam networks, Remote-access based extortion models. Cyber enforcement agencies are intensifying surveillance to protect India’s international credibility in technology-enabled services.
