Kolkata: Baguiati police have launched a probe into an alleged financial fraud in which a man was duped of Rs 34.5 lakh under the pretext of securing a business loan. According to the complaint, the victim, who was facing financial difficulties, approached a private consultancy firm seeking a loan of Rs 30 lakh. The firm’s representatives assured him of easy approval and made him sign an agreement. They also collected documents belonging to him and his wife, including PAN and Aadhaar cards, along with a blank signed cheque worth Rs 30 lakh and Rs 50,000 in cash as processing fees. The alleged fraud escalated when representatives of the firm visited the complainant’s house for physical verification and gained access to his internet banking credentials and primary email account. Soon afterwards, two transactions amounting to Rs 11 lakh and Rs 23.5 lakh were credited to his bank account. When the account holder attempted to withdraw the money, the bank informed him that the account had been frozen on the instructions of interstate police as the funds were suspected proceeds of cybercrime. Investigators believe the victim’s account was used as a “money mule” to route illicit funds. Police have registered a case under multiple sections of the BNS, including cheating, dishonest inducement and organized crime, and are tracing the origin of the funds and the accused.
