BJP Leader Baishali Dalmiya Alleges Fraud by Trinamool Functionary
Kolkata: Baishali Dalmiya, a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) functionary and daughter of the late cricket administrator Jagmohan Dalmiya, has lodged a police complaint alleging that she was defrauded of several lakhs of rupees by a Trinamool Congress (TMC) functionary who impersonated a Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) employee. The Shakespeare Sarani Police Station has registered a First Information Report (FIR) based on her complaint against the TMC functionary, identified as Pranab Koyal, and his two associates, Rohit Bag and Samsuddin Jamadar.
Details of the Fraudulent Activity
According to the complaint, the fraudulent activity took place between January 5 and June 15. Dalmiya, who is also a director of a private firm, intended to clear property taxes and mutation fees for a prime commercial premises located at 160, BL Saha Road in Behala. During this period, she met Koyal, who allegedly misrepresented himself as a KMC staff member capable of facilitating the official deposit processes. Koyal later provided an official-looking tax estimation sheet and an online application link, which turned out to be inaccessible.
Mode of Operation
Under the pretext of resolving the technical glitch, Koyal instructed Dalmiya to transfer the funds to the bank accounts of his aides. On January 5, Dalmiya transferred Rs 1 lakh to Rohit Bag and Rs 3.3 lakh to Samsuddin Jamadar via bank transfers, totaling Rs 4.3 lakh. In return, Koyal handed over multiple government documents, including proforma mutation applications, official acknowledgments, and GRIPS e-Challans.
Discovery of the Fraud
The fraud came to light when Dalmiya noticed major typographical discrepancies on the receipts, including the text “Four lacks sixty thousand only” printed in an irregular font. She also discovered that the application numbers did not match. Suspecting foul play, she approached senior officials at the KMC and the Land & Land Reforms Department for verification. The departmental enquiry revealed that the accused had submitted forged government documents and had deposited a mere Rs 100 online from a facility in Sonarpur, misappropriating the rest of the money.
Confrontation and Partial Refund
When confronted over WhatsApp and recorded phone calls, Koyal acknowledged the discrepancy and refunded Rs 65,000 in three tranches in February, promising to clear the remainder before severing all communication. The police have booked the trio under sections 61(2) (criminal conspiracy), 316(2) (criminal breach of trust), 318(4) (cheating), 319(2) (cheating by personation), 336(3) (forgery of valuable security), 338 (forgery for purpose of cheating), and 340(2) (using forged document as genuine) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023.
Stay updated with the latest Kolkata news. Download the TOI App.
