The West Bengal Crime Investigation Department (CID) has arrested a man from Assam in connection with a cyber fraud case involving a fake investment app, police sources said. The arrest took place on Wednesday in Assam, and the accused has been identified as Zahirul Islam, whose residence is located in Kamrup district.
According to sources, the CID has approached the court to secure a transit remand for the accused to bring him to West Bengal. Preliminary investigations revealed that the fraudsters had launched a fake app under the name of a company that claims to invest in the stock market and mutual funds.
Doctor Defrauded of Rs 35 Lakh
The fraudulent app reportedly targeted Rajkumar Bhattacharya, a doctor from Barasat in North 24 Parganas. The accused added him to a WhatsApp group, promising online investment training to lure him into the scheme.
Investigators said Bhattacharya was misled over a period of more than two months and made to invest in stages. Allegedly, a total of Rs 35 lakh was defrauded in ten installments. Once the doctor realized he had been cheated, he filed a complaint with the Barasat Cyber Crime Police Station.
Four Others Already Arrested
The investigation was transferred to CID following orders from the Calcutta High Court. During the course of the probe, four individuals were already arrested: Debashis Roy in March, Prosenjit Ranjan Nath in June, and Amit Ghosh and Riaz Ahmed in July. Notably, Amit Ghosh is employed with a bank.
Interrogation of these four suspects led the CID to identify Zahirul Islam as an additional accused. Based on this information, a raid was conducted in Assam, resulting in his arrest.
Fraud Perpetrated Through Social Media
Sources said the fraudsters lured people to invest via the fake app using advertisements on Facebook. Victims like Dr. Bhattacharya were gradually misled to invest in multiple stages, accumulating significant financial losses.
The CID’s latest action marks a significant breakthrough in the investigation of cyber fraud. Officials said that digital footprints and technical evidence will help uncover more details and expedite the case.
This case also highlights the urgent need for citizens to exercise caution while dealing with social media promotions and online investment platforms. The CID confirmed that the investigation is ongoing, and efforts are underway to apprehend any other suspects connected to the fraud.
