Ex-Navy officer held for duping woman of Rs 40L

After arresting Aditya Lal Mukherjee, a cheater, on the charge of siphoning off money from several persons on Friday, the Bidhannagar City police arrested another fraudster on Saturday identified as Raman Venkataraghavan, an ex-Indian Navy officer. Venkataraghavan took Rs 40 lakh from a woman promising her of giving land at Rajarhat.

It should be recalled, Pupu Mukherjee, the complainant, from whom the accused Aditya Lal Mukherjee allegedly took Rs 12,15,000, lodged an FIR against him. The complainant was told to provide a flat, but Aditya Lal Mukherjee could not fulfil his promise. He even avoided the complainant when he was asked to return the money back.

Similarly, Venkataraghavan took Rs 40 Lakh from the victim Sharmistha Choudhuri. After failing to get her money back after attempts, she lodged FIR against him with the Bidhannagar (South) police station. Police arrested him from his AC block office.

Police learnt that Venkataraghavan, after leaving his Navy job, started his career as a land and house broker. He opened an office in Salt Lake's AC Block, where people come to meet him over land related issues. He used to assure them of giving house or land at New Town.

The investigators are probing the connections of Venkataraghavan. Police suspected that Venkataraghavan might have some connection with land mafias, syndicate leaders and promoters.

It may also be recalled that Aditya Lal Mukherjee also had many high level contacts. His photographs were seen with many celebrities. The investigators found his picture with a revered actor of Bengali cinema, an actress turned MP and an actress turned MLA.