Seven individuals were arrested in connection with the alleged misappropriation of funds intended to buy tablets for students, according to police reports on Tuesday. The misappropriated money, meant for students from a school in Salar, Murshidabad, was traced back to an account in Bihar. The scandal also expanded to Kolkata, where the police registered two additional FIRs in Jadavpur and Thakurpukur.
The investigation revealed that Rs 1.5 lakh, allocated for 15 students at Tia Shanti Sudha Das Vidyamandir in Salar, was siphoned off via cyber fraud. Preliminary findings indicated that the money was transferred to an account in Kishanganj, Bihar. Of this, Rs 1.4 lakh was withdrawn. The police’s cybercrime unit filed an FIR and initiated a search for the perpetrators.
On Tuesday, law enforcement arrested Hasem Ali, a local cyber cafe owner from Malda; Asharul Hossain from North Dinajpur; and Saddiq Hossain and Mobarak Hossain from Chopra’s Daspara, along with three others.
“We have gathered evidence suggesting the hackers altered student bank account information to embezzle funds designated for tablet purchases. The roles of all accused are being thoroughly investigated,” a police officer stated. New FIRs were filed in response to similar complaints, particularly in the Sunderban Police District.
The suspects, aged between 21 and 25, are believed to have played various roles in the cybercrime ring. According to Burdwan DSP Sayak Das, Hasem Ali accessed the Bengal education portal in July, changing critical bank details, including IFSC codes, to redirect the funds.
While most students received their allocated funds, 15 students reported not receiving their amounts. The school’s headmaster reached out to the bank, which discovered that the money had been rerouted into a Bihar bank account. The fraudsters altered the IFSC code of the students’ accounts and withdrew funds from 14 out of the 15 accounts.
The police have expanded their investigation and are actively seeking more individuals linked to the racket. State education minister Bratya Basu assured that the National Informatics Centre (NIC) is investigating the case. He confirmed that those involved would face severe action.
The embezzlement has sparked outrage in the state, with guardians filing complaints over the misallocation of funds meant for students’ tablet purchases.
