Close aide of BJP leader accused of ₹71 lakh fraud involving job promises

Parimal Roy, identified as a close aide of BJP leader Nishith Pramanik, is under investigation for allegedly committing financial fraud amounting to over ₹71 lakhs. The allegations surfaced after multiple complaints were filed against Roy, claiming he misled individuals into believing they would secure employment at Cooch Behar Medical College in exchange for large sums of money. The complaints were officially registered with the Moynaguri police station, following a significant report from BJP mandal president Bishwanath Shil.

Bishwanath Shil reported that he paid approximately ₹57 lakhs to Roy, who claimed he could facilitate an assembly election ticket as well as job placements for young candidates. Shil executed these transactions online, based on Roy's assurances of securing these opportunities. After a protracted period without receiving either the promised jobs or election ticket, Shil demanded a refund. His request for reimbursement went unanswered, prompting him to file a written complaint with the police on November 4, 2024.

Following Shil's complaint, the police recorded five additional allegations from other victims, all of whom detailed similar experiences with Roy. Complainants, including Hitendra Nath Barman, Kamal Chandra Barman, and others, alleged that they were defrauded by Roy under the pretense of job placements at Cooch Behar Medical College. The amounts reported in these cases total approximately ₹13.5 lakhs, contributing to the escalating total of nearly ₹71 lakhs across all complaints filed.

Police Superintendent Umesh Khandbahal confirmed that an investigation into the allegations is actively ongoing. He stated that authorities are in pursuit of Roy, who has reportedly gone into hiding since the complaints began to surface. Khandbahal also highlighted Roy's criminal history, specifically an incident from 2018 when he allegedly fired upon police officers during a law enforcement operation, which resulted in injuries to Roy himself. This history of violence and alleged criminal activity complicates the current investigation into the financial fraud claims.

In response to the developments, Nishith Pramanik has publicly stated that he does not have a personal assistant named Parimal Roy and has denied any knowledge of the alleged fraudulent activities linked to his name. He asserted that he had no prior association with Roy that would suggest involvement in the financial schemes being investigated. The police are now focusing on gathering additional evidence, interviewing multiple witnesses, and analyzing financial records related to the transactions in question, in order to build a comprehensive case against Roy for the alleged fraud and deception surrounding job promises at the medical college. Furthermore, law enforcement officials are also looking into whether there are any other individuals involved in this scheme, as the number of complaints continues to grow.