Guwahati: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested a man accused in a case related to fraudulent activities and unregulated deposit schemes in Assam.
Mintu Das alias Rohit Chandra Das, proprietor of the Indian Institute of Banking and Information Technology (IIBIT), Guwahati, was evading arrest and absconding since January this year.
The investigation agency had subsequently carried an extensive investigation leading to his arrest in New Delhi on Tuesday, a statement issued by the CBI on Wednesday said.
Based on the allegations, an FIR was registered under Sections 120B, 406, and 420 of the Indian Penal Code, read with Sections 21(1), 21(2), 21(3) and 23 of the Banning of Unregulated Deposit Schemes Act, 2019, at Bhangagarh police station here on September 4, 2024.
Notably, on the request of the Assam government, the CBI had re-registered the case as RC-15/24, EO-III, on October 14, 2024 and initiated an extensive investigation.
The FIR alleged that victims had invested substantial amounts of money after being lured by advertisements placed by IIBIT in newspapers. Das had assured them that their investments would be placed in the stock market, promising substantial dividends.
However, after paying minimal dividends initially, he ceased payments and failed to return the deposited amounts. Furthermore, the accused absconded in January 2024 after committing the alleged offence.
“Investigation has revealed that Das had issued advertisements in newspapers, encouraging potential investors to contact him, promising substantial returns from stock market investments without risks. Several deposits were received from investors across Assam and other states, with no intention to deliver on the promised dividends or return the principal amounts,” the statement said.
“The accused also allegedly issued threats to complainants who sought legal remedies to recover their investments,” it said.
“CBI’s persistent efforts have led to tracking Mintu Das through analysis of digital evidence and inputs from reliable sources which led to his arrest. The arrested accused is being taken to Assam on transit remand and would be produced before the competent court. Investigation is continuing,” the CBI stated.
As it is, the CBI has intensified its investigation of 41 cases in Assam concerning various unregulated deposit schemes related to deceiving investors.
In October 2024, the Assam government had requested the Centre to formally hand over all the 41 registered cases to the CBI in order to ensure a fair investigation of the online stock trading scam in the state.
The apex investigation agency has, since taking over the cases following a recommendation by the Assam government, conducted search operations in at least 92 locations across five states till mid-November 2024.
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