Itanagar: Police have arrested a Guwahati resident for allegedly cheating an investor of over Rs 34.33 crore through an elaborate conspiracy involving forged govt documents and high-profile digital impersonation, a senior official said.The accused, identified as Rishiraj Borkotoky (41), was arrested from Guwahati on June 20, ICR Naharlagun SP Nyelam Nega said on Monday.A case was registered at Arunachal Pradesh’s Banderdewa police station on June 5 after investor Rajesh Agarwal filed a written complaint. Agarwal alleged that Borkotoky convinced him to invest in a proposed Extra Neutral Alcohol (ENA) manufacturing project in Assam by portraying himself as an influential businessman.“To bolster his credibility, the accused produced forged documents purportedly issued by the department of revenue under the Union finance ministry, and the office of the cabinet secretary,” Nega said.Further investigation revealed that the accused used a fake WhatsApp account displaying the profile picture of Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma. He also shared photographs showing proximity to prominent politicians to gain the investor’s trust.“Believing these representations to be genuine, the complainant transferred a total of Rs 34,33,34,373 over a period starting in 2022,” the SP added.Acting on technical and conventional intelligence, a police team tracked down and arrested Borkotoky. Officials seized five mobile phones and a luxury SUV valued at approximately Rs 1.5 crore during the operation. The accused was produced before a local court in Yupia, which remanded him to 10 days of police custody.The SP said initial scrutiny of bank transactions, KYC records, and electronic communications has corroborated key aspects of the complaint. The proceeds of the crime were allegedly routed through accounts linked to Borkotoky’s associates, family members, and business entities, which are now under scrutiny.“The seized electronic devices are being sent for forensic examination, and the verification of govt documents was initiated. We are also examining whether the voice call attributed to the Assam CM was AI-generated or created through voice impersonation techniques,” Nega said.The SP urged the public to remain cautious during financial transactions and verify all claims of government approvals through official authorities rather than relying blindly on social media or digital messaging platforms.
Accused Rishiraj Borkotoky
