Except translation, this story has not been edited by achinews staff and is published from a syndicated feed.
GUWAHATI: A case has been registered by the crime branch against Ashim Kumar Das, BN Sarma, Deva Prakash Bhagawati and others under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (178, 179, 180, 308, 316, 318, 336, 340, 351/61 BNS) for Noida based Prontastic IT (Pvt) Ltd fraud of ₹4 crore. The accused issued a fake work order for the supply of 75,000 bed sheets and pillow covers in the guise of a contract with the Adivasi Welfare and Development Board, Assam.
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The accused, led by Ashim Kher Das and Deva Prakash Bhagwati, lured the complainant, Sunny Barza, by presenting a fake work order of ₹250 crore in the name of Adivasi Welfare and Development Board. They promised the complainant and his brother that they would be able to secure the contract without officially participating in the tender, while promising high profits.
The victim initially agreed to a smaller deal worth $4 million, which includes the supply of sheets and pillowcases. The accused convinced them to deposit Rs 85.4 lakh as deposit through their bank accounts.
The complainant was taken to Guwahati, where Ashim Kher Das and his associates arranged meetings with fake officials, including a person impersonating BN Sarma, A. "Joint Secretary" of Assam Govt. The victim was further cheated in a staged meeting at the Assam Secretariat.
After the complainant’s company sent the goods from Noida to Guwahati, the trucks were diverted to a warehouse in Changsari. After delivering the goods, the accused began to avoid the complainant, raising suspicions.
Investigations revealed that Ashim Ker Das and his associates impersonated government officials and forged documents, including work orders and purchase orders, using forged stamps and seals. These fake documents were used to trick businesses into lucrative but fraudulent contracts.
A separate case at the Dispore police station is also being investigated against the same group for defrauding Manpho Exports, a Bangalore-based company, of $3.77 million using similar tactics involving a fake work order from the Assam Disaster Management Authority.
Following are the accused arrested in the case, namely, Ashim Kumar Das (41), the main accused and the kingpin of the operation, hails from Nagaon, Assam, Biranchi Borkotuki (61), a retired publicity officer posing as Joint Secretary, resides in Kamrup (M), Assam, and Nirang An Das (39), a broker who facilitated entry into the Assam Secretariat, is also from Kamrup (M), Assam.
Police have seized fake documents and are continuing their investigation to uncover more fraudulent activities by this group, which is suspected of defrauding several businesses using the same scheme.
(Except translation, this story has not been edited by achinews staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
source link https://guwahatiplus.com/assam/crime-branch-busts-rs4-crore-fraud-in-assam-three-arrested
