Kurapati Ajay, a man wanted across 13 cities for stealing wallets and electronic gadgets, was arrested last week by Bidhannagar Police. Ajay claimed he had previously been a victim of fraud by the owner of a paying guest accommodation in New Town, who allegedly did not return his money when he left a month early.
Ajay, brought to Kolkata on transit remand from Kerala, reportedly told police that he had visited New Town a few years ago and filed a police complaint over the earlier fraud. Authorities are still verifying his statement.
Police reports indicate that over the past four years, Ajay used stolen credit and debit cards to purchase gold and high-end mobile phones. He sold these items on online trading portals, using the money either for gambling or to book accommodations in new cities.
His modus operandi involved checking into guest houses and hotels, befriending other residents, and stealing their wallets and gadgets. The stolen cards were then used to make online purchases, which he converted to cash via e-wallets, often using fake documents to avoid detection.
Bidhannagar Police have noted 11 FIRs against him in addition to their own case, spanning Sikkim, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Uttarakhand, Telangana, Kerala, Rajasthan, and Puducherry. Ajay has been arrested twice before—once by Gangtok Police and again by Bengaluru Police.
Authorities highlighted that unlike many criminals who involve others in money transfers, Ajay operated alone, using e-wallets to reduce reliance on accomplices. Investigations are ongoing.
