Bhubaneswar: The Crime Branch of Odisha Police has arrested one more accused from West Bengal in connection with a major investment fraud in which a Bhubaneswar-based doctor was duped of of Rs 6.04 crore.
The arrested person, identified as Tapas Haldar (28), was apprehended from Ultadanga Main Road in Kolkata of West Bengal.
A Crime Branch press release said on Thursday that the case was registered on January 13, 2025, following a written complaint by the victim, who alleged that he was lured into investing in IPOs and OTC trading with promises of high returns. Over a period of 3.5 months, he transferred Rs 6,04,53,000 into multiple bank accounts as per the fraudsters’ instructions.
During investigation, police found that the amount had been routed through 22 different bank accounts, using funds from eight accounts belonging to the doctor and his associates. The money was quickly siphoned off through cheques, ATM withdrawals, and further layered transfers to secondary accounts.
Haldar was produced before the Court of ACJM, Sealdah, and later brought on remand to Odisha. He was presented before the SDJM Court in Bhubaneswar on Thursday.
Earlier, two other accused—Ashok Nanda (53) of Siliguri, Darjeeling District, and Jayarani Basak (38) of West Bengal—were arrested on May 1. The investigation team, led by Inspector Gitanjali Jena, continues to probe the case, tracing financial trails and uncovering links in the wider network.
The investigating team also seized various incriminating items, including mobile phones, SIM cards, WhatsApp chat screenshots, Aadhaar cards, PAN cards, bank passbooks, cheque books, debit cards, and more. Several bank accounts linked to the fraud have already been frozen.
Further investigation is in progress to identify and nab other accomplices, trace the trans-India network of this crime, and follow the money trail.
The Crime Branch has also urged citizens to remain vigilant against unsolicited investment offers on social media and messaging platforms. It advised the public to verify such schemes before investing and to report any suspicious activity to the Cyber Helpline (1930) or the nearest police station.
