Prime Accused In Assam Trading Scam Arrested From Goa

The prime accused in the online trading scam case, Deepankar Barman, was arrested by the Assam Police from Goa on Sunday, DGP GP Singh said. The arrest came after an intense cross-country search for two months. 

The multi-crore online trading scam in the state came to light in August when investors, who had put in huge amounts of money in 29-year-old Barman’s company, complained that they were not paid due returns. They also complained that Deepankar Barman’s office had been closed.

Guwahati’s Police Commissioner Diganta Barah said a team led by ACP Amit Mahato made the arrest.

“Finally, Dipankar Burman arrested at Goa. The run ends. Congratulations Team @GuwahatiPol,” Mr Singh posted on X.

Finally, Dipankar Burman arrested at Goa. The run ends. Congratulations Team @GuwahatiPolpic.twitter.com/K6gHrO1Ymf

— GP Singh (@gpsinghips) October 27, 2024

The accused will likely be produced before a court in Goa on Monday and brought to Guwahati on transit remand, said another police officer.

While over 65 people, including those allegedly running similar scams, were arrested, Barman was at large. 

Barman’s parents, Chabin Barman and Deepali Talukdar, along with Mukesh Agarwal, a chartered accountant and financial planner for the consultancy, were arrested by police last month.

Assamese actor Sumi Borah and her photographer husband Tarkik Borah were among those arrested in the scam.

The state government had handed over the investigation in 41 cases registered in connection with the scam to the CBI.

Several firms, promoted mostly by men and women in their 20s, allegedly raised hundreds of crores of rupees from people across the state with the promise that they would get huge returns by investing in the stock markets.

As these firms failed to repay their investors, the scam came to light.