In a major breakthrough, Bidhannagar Cyber Crime Police arrested two conmen from Tamil Nadu in connection with a high-value investment fraud case, where Rs 1.3 crore was siphoned off from a Salt Lake-based woman and her sister.
The accused, Venkatesan Dharuman (43) and Devan M (35), both residents of Agarakorakottai village in Tiruvannamalai district, were arrested from a hotel on Acharapakkam Road in Vandavasi, Tamil Nadu.
The fraud dates back to October 2024, when Sreyoshi Pal (38), of FE Block, Salt Lake, came in contact with a man named “Ali Vikas” through WhatsApp. He introduced her to an online platform called Stonewall Capital, claiming it was for trading and wealth management.
Initially, Pal invested Rs 9.9 lakhs and received small returns, which built trust. Encouraged, she recommended the platform to her elder sister, Sayantani Chakraborty, who later transferred Rs 1.2 crore over 12 transactions. The fraud only came to light when demands for additional funds raised suspicion.
After lodging a complaint at the Cyber Crime Police Station and submitting a report on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal, the investigation led to the two arrests.
Police say the duo received the scammed money into personal accounts and later withdrew the funds using self-issued cheques. During the arrest, multiple incriminating documents were seized.
The two accused were brought to Kolkata on transit remand and produced before a Salt Lake court, which ordered police custody for further interrogation. “We are working to trace the main mastermind and identify other associates involved in this fraud network,” a senior police officer said.
