GUWAHATI:
A group of fraudsters transferred Rs 76 lakh from the bank account of Dispur College at Bank of Baroda (BoB) to a non-government organisation (NGO) of West Bengal through a fake cheque.
Based on a complaint lodged by Dispur College principal Dr Nabajyoti Bora, the city police have registered case No 1094/ 2022 under sections 120(B), 409, 467, 468, 420 and 471 of the Indian Panel Code (IPC).
The amount was transferred on April 21 from the Dispur branch of Bank of Baroda to the bank account of a “Jatiya Computer Swakharata Mission” in Bara Nagar branch of Union Bank of India in West Bengal.
However, the incident came to the light of the college authority only on May 4.
“Yesterday, while opening my Gmail account, I received a mail from Bank of Baroda, Dispur branch for confirmation of an amount of Rs 76,34,900 to be released to Jatiya computer Swakharata Mission as a donation. I was back as the same was not issued by me from the account of Dispur College With suspicion when I went to Bank of Baroda Dispur branch from where I came to know that there was an internal communication between the Bank of Baroda Dispur branch and Union Bank of India, Bara Nagar branch, North 24, Pargana,” said Dr Nabajyaoti Bora, principal, Dispur College.
“Accordingly the amount was transferred to Jatiya Computer Swakharata Mission bearing account No 176111100004003 through the cheque No 005971. This cheque amounting Rs 3800 was issued to one Dipu Bhowal, a tailor for clothing of security personnel of the college on April 19,” Dr Bora said.
“This cheque was dishonoured by the bank as the college authority has suspended the bank transaction for several days due to my joining as new principal and change of the mobile number. The cheque is now under the custody of the person to whom it was issued,” Dr Bora also said.
“Surprisingly, the frauds used this cheque number for transfer of the amount. I suspect the involvement of the people of Bank of Baroda in the incident. While doing the transaction, the bank authority neither contacted me nor tried to verify the authenticity of the cheque,” the principal said.
“The fraudsters also used fake pad and fake mail ID of Dispur College for transfer of the amount. They used [email protected] for the transaction whereas the original email ID of Dispur College is [email protected],” he added.
“We are investing into the case. Right now I can’t say anything, but everything will come to the light soon,” said Bibekananda Das, additional deputy commissioner (ADCP) of Guwahati City Police.