In a rare case of internal fraud within the Indian Army, a Lieutenant Colonel stationed in West Bengal has accused another serving officer and his brother of duping him of over ₹1 crore in a fake investment scheme. The incident has triggered a criminal investigation by Delhi Police’s Dwarka Sector 23 unit, raising serious questions about financial misconduct within military circles.
The complainant, a serving Lieutenant Colonel currently posted in Panagarh, West Bengal, filed a detailed police complaint on May 27 accusing a fellow officer — also a Lieutenant Colonel — and his brother of cheating him out of a substantial sum under the guise of a profitable investment.
According to the FIR, the accused met the victim during his posting in Assam in 2022. Their friendship, built on mutual service background and rank, deepened during subsequent interactions, including a visit to Jabalpur, where the accused had reportedly moved for a departmental training assignment.
It was here that the accused introduced the victim to a business plan involving fish farming and real estate investments in Bengaluru. The accused allegedly assured the victim that the returns would be proportional to the capital invested, with complete documentation and even mock presentations to make the scheme appear legitimate.
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The Fraud: Transfers Made, Questions Dodged, Threats Issued
Lured by the promise of high returns, the victim transferred over ₹1 crore to an account controlled by the accused. However, once the money was deposited, things began to change. When the victim inquired about the use of funds and return on investment, the accused failed to provide any answers and soon became evasive.
The situation worsened when the accused allegedly began threatening the victim to prevent further questioning. Alarmed, the victim approached the Dwarka Sector 23 Police Station in Delhi, which registered the complaint and began preliminary inquiries. The investigation is now underway, and the accused could soon be summoned or questioned by the authorities under criminal sections of cheating, criminal breach of trust, and criminal intimidation.
Uniform Betrayal: When Trust Among Officers Becomes a Tool for Exploitation
The accused allegedly took advantage of the inherent trust and discipline that binds military personnel — a system where rank, honor, and camaraderie are central. This case marks a serious breach of that trust.
What sets this case apart is the involvement of two serving military officers in what appears to be a civilian-style investment fraud. While financial crimes among civilians are common, their emergence within defense ranks raises red flags regarding personal financial vulnerability, peer influence, and unchecked private ventures by officers.
The Indian Army has yet to issue a formal statement, but sources indicate that internal inquiries may follow depending on the outcome of the civilian police investigation.