2 prime accused nabbed in Rs 40L insurance scam

Kolkata: Two persons have been arrested for allegedly cheating an elderly woman by promising to arrange withdrawal of dormant insurance. It has been alleged that the victim was cheated of Rs 40 lakh. Earlier on October 15, police had arrested 16 persons in connection to the same case.

According to sources, on June 21 last year, an aged woman identified as Tapati Mallick of Girish Park had lodged a complaint at Bidhannagar Cyber Crime police station, alleging that she had been duped of Rs 40 lakh by some people.

She had bought two policies from two separate insurance companies through an agent, as she was promised that if she paid three yearly premiums of Rs 50,000, the entire premium amount will be refunded after adding 12 percent interest.

But after completion of the third year, Rs 50,000 was deducted again from her account. Immediately, she closed all the operations regarding the deduction of any further amount from her account. But she did not try to contact the two companies regarding the policies.

Last year in June, an unknown person called her up and stated that their company was offering help to people who have dormant policies. In good faith, Mallick disclosed her policy details and she was asked to go to their office in Sector V. When she informed that she was unable to travel alone, a person came to her home and took her.

After reaching the office, another person met her and told Mallick that if she invests Rs 2 lakh on insurance policies, then the previous amount will be refunded. However, she did not receive any amount as promised. In the complaint, she mentioned that step by step the alleged cheaters had taken Rs 40 lakh from her.

During probe police arrested 16 persons from the office located in Sector V on October 15. But the prime accused, identified as Paplush Roy and Prodip Roy Chowdhury, managed to flee.

On Tuesday night, police came to know that the duo had returned to their homes and a raid was conducted to nab them.