CBI arrests senior AG office official in Imphal for bribery
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Guwahati: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Thursday filed a supplementary chargesheet against three individuals in connection with the ongoing Assam Ponzi scam case.

The chargesheet was filed before the Special CBI Court in Guwahati against Chabin Barman, Deepali Talukdar Barman, and Mukesh Aggarwal.

The three accused are already in judicial custody and were arrested within 90 days of the CBI taking over the case. The agency took over the investigation from the Paltan Bazar Police Station on October 14, 2024, following a request from the Assam Government. The case was initially registered on August 21, 2024, against D.B. Stock Consultancy, owned by Deepankar Barman, and his close associate Monalisha Das, along with other employees.

The CBI alleges that the accused defrauded investors by promising them guaranteed returns and issuing Rs. 100 stamp papers as proof. However, payments became irregular over the last three months, and many clients did not receive their returns. The complainant, who invested Rs. 1 crore, alleges that thousands of other clients also invested crores of rupees in the company. The accused fled with the clients’ investment.

The investigation has revealed that M/s. DB Stock Consultancy accepted deposits from the public under five unregulated deposit schemes, promising higher fixed returns. The CBI claims to have traced over Rs. 400 crore in deposits received by the company.

The supplementary chargesheet also includes additional evidence against Monalisha Das, who was previously charged in the case. The CBI alleges that Chabin Barman, along with his wife Deepali Talukdar Barman and son Deepankar Barman, conspired to promote an unregulated deposit scheme at GMCH, Guwahati. Chabin Barman is accused of delivering a speech soliciting deposits. Deepali Talukdar Barman is alleged to have participated in promoting and running the scheme, using the proceeds for personal investments in real estate and other businesses.

Mukesh Aggarwal, a Chartered Accountant, is accused of conspiring with Deepankar Barman to conceal the proceeds of the scheme. He is alleged to have fabricated fake invoices, adjusted illicit funds as loans in the firm’s books, and created false financial documents. The CBI also alleges that he manipulated IT and GST returns to further aid in concealing the proceeds.

The investigation is ongoing against other individuals, including Deepankar Barman.

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