3 more arrested in Rs. 1 crore digital fraud, crypto links exposed in Kolkata raid

In a major development in the ongoing investigation into a digital fraud case, three more individuals have been arrested in connection with a scam that defrauded the victim of Rs. 1 Crore. The case, originally registered under Survey Park PS, BFS/DD, Case No. 184 on November 9, 2024, involves a fraudulent scheme where the victim was falsely threatened with arrest by individuals impersonating Mumbai Police officers. These fraudsters accused the victim of involvement in money laundering before cheating him out of a substantial sum through multiple transactions.

Earlier, three key suspects – Suraj Kumar Singh, Arman Akhtar Khan, and Md. Jahinuddin – were apprehended for their roles in the fraud. Suraj was identified as the beneficiary account holder, while Arman Akhtar Khan took control of Suraj’s bank account. Md. Jahinuddin was responsible for withdrawing the money from Suraj’s account, facilitating the transfer of funds. These arrests formed part of the investigation into the extensive financial scam.

Following an investigation into mobile locations, Subrata Mallick (32) was arrested at Bangur, located under the jurisdiction of Laketown PS. A raid was carried out based on Mallick's location data, leading to the discovery of incriminating evidence at an office located at 1/3 Bangur Avenue, Kolkata-700055. The search resulted in the seizure of several items, including five mobile phones, two laptops, a cash counting machine, four cheque books, and cash amounting to Rs. 28.37 lakh.

During the raid, two other individuals, Pankaj Mallick (36) and Bishnu Agarwal (51), were also arrested. Preliminary investigations suggest that the funds were laundered into cryptocurrency, with the involvement of the arrested trio in the digital currency exchange. The authorities have confirmed that the three individuals will be produced before the Ld. ACJM at Alipore Court tomorrow, where a police remand will be sought. The investigation is ongoing, with more details expected as further inquiries unfold.