Human trafficking case: Conman held; top bureaucrats, Armymen named

After the Income Tax department informed Delhi Police about a suicide attempt of a Russian woman who was allegedly forced into prostitution at the residence of technology consultant Pritindra Nath Sanyal, a raid was conducted and passports seized of lady foreign nationals. Sanyal has been arrested, the police said on Thursday.    

Based on circumstantial evidences, Delhi Police claimed that Sanyal was involved in human trafficking and a number of impersonation cases. Meanwhile, sources in the I-T department confirmed that Sanyal, who was once an informer of the said department, had impersonated top honchoes including top bureaucrats, officials in the I-T department, Central Board of Direct Taxes.  

Delhi Police have also requested I-T authorities to provide details about the articles/documents seized from Sanyal’s residence. He owns at least 14 properties in the country and sources said that apart from the I-T probe, the investigation might be conducted by Delhi Police EOW (Economic Offence Wing) as huge financial transactions involving foreign women are being suspected. The dealings  also include buying a flat in Sujan Singh Park in Delhi from a city-based goldsmith. 

The Income Tax department carried out search and seizure operations on June 2, 2016, at Sanyal’s residences in South Delhi’s Safdarjung Enclave, Vasant Kunj and Lucknow simultaneously. 

“During searches at his Safdarjung residence, incriminating documents indicating his involvements in illegal activities like human trafficking and impersonation came to light. Documentary evidence in the form of WhatsApp messages and SMS  texts were seized,” a report by the I-T department sent to Delhi Police reads.  

The cops learnt about the matter after a 23-year-old Russian woman, who has left the country now, had slashed both her wrists while the I-T department was conducting the raid at Sanyal’s residence. 

After police were informed, she told them that her passport had been forcibly kept by Sanyal in his custody. She further disclosed about the human trafficking of foreign nationals, specially women from Central Asian countries. “During the search, copies of passports of other foreign women and phone numbers of dozens of others were recovered from his residence. Messages exchanged between Sanyal and his associates revealed financial transactions related to those women. 

“Meanwhile, the Russian said she was introduced to accused Sanyal by one Colonel Ajay Ahlawat whose involvement in the case is also being investigated. Ahlawat has been involved in many cheating cases earlier,” Ishwar Singh, Deputy Commissioner of Police (South) said quoting the I-T report.  

“Messages have also been sent to a senior IAS officer and bureaucrats on WhatsApp by the name of Naresh Aggarwal (RS member) from Samajwadi Party,” Singh added. However, Aggarwal said he was unaware about the impersonation.  

Teams of Delhi Police have been formed to trace the women whose passports have been recovered and the cops are also trying to contact the Russian woman again to know further details about the racket.