The Cyber Crime Wing of Kolkata Police has arrested an Assam-based man in connection with the alleged theft of ₹56 lakh from the bank account of Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Kalyan Banerjee. Police identified the accused as Mokuleshar Reza, who was arrested late Friday from Rangapani in Assam. Investigators believe the cyber fraud may have involved additional accomplices and are continuing to probe the wider network behind the crime.
According to police, Reza will be brought to Kolkata on transit remand for detailed interrogation. Investigators aim to determine whether other individuals were involved in the alleged bank fraud and trace how the stolen money was moved and utilised after being withdrawn from the account.
Preliminary findings suggest that the accused allegedly visited the bank posing as a lawyer and succeeded in changing the mobile number linked to Banerjee’s bank account. Once the registered mobile number was altered, he allegedly gained control over transaction alerts and authentication messages, enabling him to withdraw approximately ₹56 lakh through multiple transactions. Police believe the fraud was carefully planned and executed.
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The bank account involved in the case was maintained at a branch of a nationalised bank located inside the West Bengal State Assembly premises. The alleged fraud came to light in November 2025, when bank officials informed Kalyan Banerjee that around ₹56 lakh had been withdrawn from his account. Following the discovery, a complaint was immediately lodged with the Cyber Crime Wing, which initiated a detailed investigation.
Investigators said they tracked the accused through digital evidence, banking records, and financial transaction analysis. After following the digital trail, police located Reza in Assam and arrested him. The investigation is now focused on examining whether any insider assistance or procedural lapses within the banking system facilitated the unauthorised modification of the registered mobile number.
Police also suspect that the accused used part of the allegedly stolen money to purchase gold. Investigators are attempting to trace and recover the precious metal while simultaneously analysing bank accounts, transaction records, and other digital evidence to establish the complete money trail.
Officials said Reza’s interrogation is expected to reveal whether he acted independently or as part of a larger organised cyber fraud syndicate. If evidence points to the involvement of additional suspects, further arrests may follow as the investigation progresses.
Renowned cybercrime expert and former IPS officer Prof. Triveni Singh said that fraudulent changes to the mobile number linked with a bank account have become an increasingly dangerous tactic used by cybercriminals. Once the registered mobile number is replaced, OTPs, transaction alerts, and authentication messages are redirected to the fraudsters, allowing them to gain unauthorised control over the account. According to him, a comprehensive forensic examination of KYC records, mobile number modification documents, CCTV footage, banking logs, and digital evidence is crucial to exposing the entire conspiracy, identifying every participant, and maximising the recovery of the allegedly stolen funds. Investigators are continuing to examine all aspects of the case to dismantle the network behind the alleged fraud.
