TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee became victim of cyber fraud in which he lost Rs 55 lakh. The fraudsters withdrew this amount from one of his inactive bank accounts. Police investigation of the case is ongoing.
Government, police and telecom companies are spreading awareness about cyber fraud through mobile messages every day. But people, especially educated and highly educated people, are falling into this big trap, which is surprising. These cyber fraudsters are especially targeting elderly people. Recently, a 68 year old chartered accountant was defrauded of more than Rs 1 crore by thugs posing as an ED officer. The matter had not yet cooled down when a Trinamool Congress MP became a victim of cyber fraud and lost Rs 55 lakh.
Rs 55 lakh missing from Trinamool Congress MP’s account
Kalyan Banerjee, a 4-time MP from West Bengal, is the only person who has lost his money to cyber fraudsters. Kalyan Banerjee, former chief whip of Trinamool Congress in the Lok Sabha, had an account in State Bank of India. Between 2001 and 2006, when he was a member of the West Bengal Assembly, his salary was deposited in this account. At that time he was the Trinamool Congress MLA from Asansol (South) constituency. This area was then part of undivided Burdwan district and is now part of West Burdwan district.
Due to no transaction in this bank account, it had become inactive. But the fraudsters first transferred Rs 55 lakh from his personal account at Kalighat branch of SBI to this inactive account and then withdrew the entire Rs 55 lakh from that inactive account. This matter came to his attention recently, after which he immediately contacted SBI officials. After this he lodged a complaint with the Cyber Crime Department of Kolkata Police.
A city police official has confirmed that the entire matter is being investigated closely. Bank officials are also being contacted. Efforts are on to trace the fraudsters. At the same time, bank officials are also investigating whether there has been any mistake on their part. It has been revealed that the photograph and mobile number of a 4-time Lok Sabha member has been used in this fraud. However, Kalyan Banerjee has not given any reaction on this. But a Trinamool Congress leader close to Banerjee has said that Banerjee is hopeful that the police will solve the matter as soon as possible and get her money back.