ITANAGAR, May 20: In a significant development, Koushik Das, a prime suspect in the Rs. 35 lakh cheque forgery case, has been arrested in Guwahati. This arrest marks a crucial breakthrough in the ongoing investigation into a major financial fraud that involved unauthorized bank transfers through forged cheques.
The Complaint and Initial Investigation
The case began on February 8, 2024, when Shri Techi Niglo of Ganga village, Itanagar, lodged a complaint with the Chimpu Police Station. Niglo reported that Rs. 35 lakhs had been illicitly transferred from his State Bank of India (SBI) account at the Ganga branch. The transfer was executed using a forged cheque, sparking immediate concern and prompting the police to register a case. Sub-Inspector S.K. Jha was assigned to lead the investigation.
Evidence and Discovery
During the investigation, the police recovered the missing cheque leaf from Niglo’s cheque book at the SBI Ganga branch. A crucial piece of evidence was a letter pad belonging to M/S Hita Enterprises found in Koushik Das’s possession, on which he had been practicing forging Niglo’s signature. This discovery pointed directly to Das’s involvement in the fraud.
Further investigation revealed that the fraudulent cheque had facilitated the transfer of Rs. 35 lakhs to an account held by Tridip Saikia at the HDFC Biswanath Charali branch. The funds were then partly re-transferred to another SBI account and partly withdrawn in cash. Additionally, Rs. 20 lakhs from the illicit gains were traced to the bank account of M/S Kuntala Filling Station, owned by Rajib Das.
Prime Suspects and Legal Actions
The investigation identified three prime suspects: Koushik Das, Tridip Saikia, and Rajib Das. Despite intensive efforts, Koushik Das and Tridip Saikia evaded capture, going into hiding. Rajib Das, who had been granted interim bail by the High Court, Itanagar Permanent Bench, failed to cooperate with the investigation.
To mitigate further financial losses, the police froze beneficiary accounts holding Rs. 22 lakhs, ensuring these funds could eventually be restored to the complainant.
Arrest and Ongoing Investigation
A major breakthrough occurred on May 18, 2024, when technical surveillance led to the location of Koushik Das in the VIP Road, 6 Mile area of Guwahati. A police team, led by SI S.K. Jha and supervised by OC Chimpu PS Shri Dwarka Gaadhi, IPS(P), and SDPO Itanagar DySP Kengo Dirchi, successfully apprehended Das. He was formally arrested and remanded in police custody for further interrogation aimed at uncovering the whereabouts of the other suspects and additional details of the crime.
Police Statement and Public Appeal
Shri Rohit Rajbir Singh, IPS, SP Itanagar, who is overseeing the investigation, reaffirmed the Arunachal Pradesh Police’s dedication to upholding the law and ensuring justice for victims of financial crimes. He emphasized the importance of public cooperation in tackling such fraudulent activities. Citizens are urged to remain vigilant and report any suspicious behavior to the authorities.