Crime

Saradha, Rose Valley, and so on - those though had ceased rolling further after substantial seizures and arrests by the Central Bureau of Investigation over the years - seems to have gained a new lease of toxic breathing that currently has left the law and order authorities in a fix these days, as they've failed to estimate  - how simply a family could accumulate nearly Rs 450 Crore silently befooling even the 'responsible' citizens over the months! 

 

Tahsin Ahmed, a resident of Tori Mohalla in the Railpar area - a locality of Asansol town inhibited mostly by the marginal people has now been accused of defrauding hundreds by promising hefty returns with interest against investments in his 'fictitious' projects, which the intelligence officials have termed as a new ponzi scam.

 

Tahsin is the son of Shakil Ahmed  - a former Councilor of the Asansol Municipal Corporation. He also holds as the state committee leader of the ruling Trinamul Congress's Minority Cell. He, though has denied his allegiance with the scam, the BJP has taken the issue to the national politics after state Assembly's Leader of Opposition, Subhendu Adhikari, in his X-handle demanded a probe by the Enforcement Directorate.

 

Tahsin, in a surpising bid, however was intercepted by the police last night from the temple area near chittaranjan town.

 

Tahsin's 'trick' has, however, worked well that stripped many from different cross-sections like retired policemen, some businessmen, and realtors to uncountable middle-class traders, the salaried class.

 

The victims of this Ponzi scam complained that they invested their hard earned money, keeping trust in Tahsin's juggling words. They became ambitious for good profits in short terms. For sometimes the unholy gains benefitted the depositors well, but then suddenly, 'returns' stopped coming, leaving the greedy herd in jeopardy and the figure of 'deprived' depositors increased infusing frustrations by leaps and bound that gradually gained momentum.

 

The 'deprived' investors, while chasing for money, complained that they were given multiple pleas by the family and staffs of Tahsin. Sometimes, they were told that Tahsin Ahmed had suffered grave injuries in a road accident. Sometimes, as the depositors alleged, Tahsin was pleading for some time until October. As October was seen about to be over, the depositors estimated some gross anomaly in words and began protesting in groups in front of Tahsin's house since last week. 

 

A retired BSF officer, Ravindra Singh, also was ambitious for hefty returns and said hopelessly: "I initially invested Rs 3 lakh on believing these people. Initially, I was getting a good return every month.Then I invested more, expecting further healthier bucks. I have invested Rs 41 lakh in gross. But things changed suddenly, and the monthly interest stopped coming." He said: "I became apprehensive about the fate of my deposit and kept inquiring about money, Tahsin however started making different excuses." He also said that since he worked in the BSF and was a depositor, many known to him invested following him. Singh claimed that seven persons were directly involved in the ponzi scam. He added: "This business was run by a well organized racket that I had witnessed closely." Singh continued: "About 2500 people have fallen victims of this Ponzi scam, and the fraudsters have siphoned more than Rs 450 crore as yet." Singh met the MLA of Asansol North Assembly segment Moloy Ghatak, who holds as the state's Law and Labour Minister and had complained about the scam a fortnight back. "I described him the whole matter. Ghatak assured that he would arrange to return my money, and the Minister also had instructed the Asansol (North) Police Station to investigate the matter."

 

Like Singh, a woman Moutushi Dutta, a resident of Battala area of ??Mahishila Colony in Asansol, was another victim of the ponzi scam.  She alleged: "I am unemployed. I had invested the money by mortgaging my gold jewelry. I was getting good returns for a few months. But then suddenly the money stopped coming. Now, when asking for money, I am ill treated, assaulted and been pushed away." she also said: "A complaint has also been filed in this regard at Asansol (North) Police Station where I mentioned that I had invested Rs 20 lakh."

 

 

Meanwhile, a complaint has been filed in Asansol North Police Station, and an investigation has been initiated. On Saturday evening, Asansol Durgapur Police DCP (Central) Dhruv Das said,  Tahsin Ahmed was arrested near Chandrachud Temple on National Highway No.19 of Asansol North Police Station. The Asansol North Police Station had information that Tahsin Ahmed was trying to escape along National Highway 19. He was arrested this evening in a raid. The arrested person will be presented before the Asansol District Court on Sunday and an application will be made for police custody.The Asansol Durgapur Police Commissionerate has remained tight-lipped on the developments.