The Directorate of Enforcement (ED) has arrested Kunal Gupta, the owner and Director of M/s Met Technologies Pvt Ltd., under Section 19 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The Hon’ble Special PMLA Court in Kolkata has remanded him to ED custody until September 22, 2023.
The ED initiated its investigation based on an FIR registered by Bidhannagar Police, which alleged serious offenses including cheating, forgery, and criminal conspiracy under various sections of the Indian Penal Code against M/s Met Technologies Pvt. Ltd. and its associates. The investigation uncovered the presence of an illegal call center operated by the company in Salt Lake, Kolkata, engaging in fraudulent activities both domestically and internationally. Subsequently, the call center was sealed by the local police.
The ED investigation revealed that representatives of the company targeted unsuspecting residents in the USA, UK, and Australia. They posed as representatives of legitimate businesses and defrauded individuals through various means, including bogus tech support offers, deceptive website sales, and fraudulent loan offers via counterfeit mobile apps, coercing victims into making substantial payments. Mr. Kunal Gupta is also suspected to be involved in illegal betting and online gambling activities. It has come to light that he has established companies in the UK, US, and Australia. Notably, two of his UK-based companies have incurred significant penalties from Ofcom, the Telecom Regulator of the UK, for the illegal practice of switching a consumer’s telephone service provider without consent.
The investigation further revealed that the laundered money was funneled into the hospitality sector, encompassing hotels, clubs, and cafes, as a means to legitimize the illicit funds.
The arrest and ongoing investigation underscore the authorities’ commitment to cracking down on financial crimes and fraudulent activities, both domestically and internationally. Mr. Kunal Gupta’s arrest serves as a significant development in the pursuit of justice and the dismantling of illicit operations.
