A major scandal involving online trading fraud has surfaced in Assam, with authorities now issuing a lookout circular for an Assamese film industry actor and five others. These individuals, including the actor Sumi Borah, her husband, brother, sister-in-law, and two others, had failed to appear before the investigating officer, despite being issued notices.
But now, Assam-based actor and choreographer Sumi Borah, along with her photographer husband Tarkik Bora, have been taken into police custody for their alleged involvement in a massive online stock trading scam. The scam is said to involve around Rs 2,200 crore. They have surrendered to the police and informed about the same on social media.
The duo, originally from upper Assam, had been on the run for over 10 days before they finally surrendered to the police in Dibrugarh. She maintained her innocence, claiming that she had become a victim of media trials and was wrongly being linked to the financial fraud.
The Scam and Arrest of mastermind
The police arrested the mastermind behind the fraud, 22-year-old Bishal Phukan, on August 30 in Dibrugarh district, Assam. Phukan allegedly lured around 1,500 people into investing in stock market schemes, promising them quick and attractive returns. He was taken into custody after a suo moto case (a case initiated by the police without a formal complaint) was registered in Dibrugarh. Sumi Borah is accused of receiving expensive gifts from Phukan, another key figure in the scam. There are also reports that Phukan spent lavishly on her wedding, which took place in Rajasthan. Despite these accusations, Sumi has denied any wrongdoing.
During the investigation, it was revealed that Phukan and his associates tricked many investors by offering them an irresistible deal. They promised a 30% return on investments within just 60 days. To build trust, they initially returned small investments with even higher interest rates, ranging between 30-50%. This lured more people into investing larger amounts, expecting big returns. However, when these bigger investments were made, the scamsters stopped paying back. It is reported that over 1,500 people have fallen victim to this fraud.
Given the complexity and magnitude of the scam, Director General of Police (DGP) GP Singh has transferred the investigation to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID). A Special Investigation Team (SIT) has also been set up to probe deeper into the allegations and find more evidence.
Seizure of Properties
Authorities have seized several properties linked to Phukan, including his bank accounts, and are planning to attach more assets connected to the fraud. Meanwhile, police have already recorded the statements of various witnesses, including investors and family members of the accused. Notices have also been issued to around 15 more people for further questioning.
Investigation Progress
The investigation is still ongoing, with police scrutinizing documents to determine the total amount of money involved in the scam. Additionally, they are working with other government agencies like the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), the Income Tax Department, and more to verify the seized documents.
So far, the police have arrested 59 people across different districts in Assam and formed 14 SITs to investigate 28 cases related to illegal online trading. Several high-ranking officials, including Lance Naik Saroj Deka from CID and Golaghat police station’s OC Jitumoni Deka, have faced disciplinary action for their alleged involvement in illegal trading activities.
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