New Delhi, Sep 20: The Delhi Police arrested three people in connection with a cyber-fraud case involving cheating of Rs 97,708, with the accused allegedly operating and facilitating the use of a mule bank account to receive and handle proceeds of cyber fraud, officials said on Sunday.

Three mobile phones and Rs 20,000 in cash were also recovered during the course of the investigation.

The case came to light after a complaint was received from a resident of Tamil Nadu, who alleged that he had been cheated of Rs 97,708 on the pretext of providing benefits under the Government Scholarship Scheme.

During the investigation, the police meticulously analysed the financial trail of the cheated amount. Since the mule bank account used for carrying out the transactions was being operated in Delhi’s East District, the Cyber Police Station there took up the investigation to identify the persons facilitating and operating the account and to disrupt the chain involved in handling the proceeds of the cyber fraud.

Accordingly, an FIR under Sections 112(2) and 318(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) was registered at the police station.

As part of sustained efforts to identify and disrupt the financial channels being used for cyber fraud, a dedicated team of PS Cyber, East District, was constituted under the leadership of Inspector Pawan, SHO/PS Cyber, East District, and under the supervision of ACP, Operations, Amandeep Kaur.

The team comprised Sub-Inspectors Bhanu Singh and Azad, Head Constables Ajay, Parveen, and Yogesh, who conducted a detailed analysis of the financial transactions and digital trail linked to the cheated amount.

The investigation established that the cheated money had been routed through a bank account maintained in the name of 23-year-old Kunal Kumar, a labourer.

Further scrutiny of the bank records revealed that the account was allegedly being used as a mule account for receiving and handling proceeds generated through cyber fraud.

Police found that approximately Rs 44,500 had been withdrawn from the account, while a portion of the amount was subsequently transferred to accused Manish Kumar, a 22-year-old college student.

Further investigation revealed the alleged involvement of Manish Kumar and another 22-year-old college student, Jeet alias Nikhil, in handling the movement of the cheated amount. According to the investigation, Manish Kumar used to arrange mule bank accounts for Jeet.

Police said Manish allegedly arranged the account in exchange for a 10 per cent commission on the cheated amount and subsequently withdrew the money transferred from the account of accused Kunal Kumar.

The investigation subsequently led to the arrest of all three accused — Kunal Kumar, Manish Kumar and Jeet.

Police said further investigation is in progress to trace the remaining associates, establish the complete money trail, and trace and recover the remaining proceeds of crime.

Guwahati, Sep 20: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday laid the foundation stone for Adani Power Limited’s 3,200 MW ultra-supercritical thermal power plant at Chapar in Dhubri district, marking one of the largest private investments in the state’s history.

The project, which entails an investment of around Rs 48,000 crore, is expected to significantly boost Assam’s power generation capacity while creating large-scale employment opportunities.

According to the company, the plant is likely to generate up to 20,000 jobs during the construction phase and around 5,000 permanent and indirect jobs once it becomes operational.

The foundation stone ceremony was attended by senior state government officials, industry representatives, community leaders and Adani Group Director Jeet Adani.

The Chapar thermal power project forms a major component of the Adani Group’s broader Rs 63,000-crore investment plan in Assam’s power sector.

The plant is scheduled to be commissioned in phases beginning in December 2030 and will comprise four units of 800 MW each. It will use ultra-supercritical technology designed to improve efficiency while incorporating modern environmental safeguards.

In his address at the event, Chief Minister Sarma said Assam is rapidly emerging as an energy hub for the Northeast and that several large energy projects are currently under development in the state. He described the Chapar project as a major outcome of the investment commitments made during the Advantage Assam Investor Summit 2.0.

“With an investment of nearly Rs 48,000 crore, this project will constitute one of the largest single investments ever made in Assam,” he stated.

Jeet Adani said the thermal power project marks the beginning of a new chapter in Assam’s development journey. “The project will also create jobs and open up opportunities for local contractors, suppliers and businesses. We are proud to invest in Assam and be part of the state’s economic growth,” he noted.

Highlighting the Group’s wider plans in the state, Jeet Adani said investments exceeding Rs 80,000 crore across power, aviation and cement sectors are already translating into projects on the ground.

Kolkata, Sep 20: A group of unidentified miscreants on motorbikes attacked and vandalised several party offices of the CPI-M and the house and party office of former Trinamool Congress MLA Debrabrata Majumdar in the Jadavpur area of south Kolkata, police said on Sunday.

CPI-M offices were targeted in six wards of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) area.

It is alleged that the party flag was taken down and thrown to the ground in the attacks.

The house and office of long-time KMC councillor of ward number 96 and former MLA Majumdar were also allegedly attacked, and some family members were assaulted.

It is still unclear who was involved in this incident.

According to a CPIM leader, party offices were vandalised in ward numbers 96, 99, 101, 102, 105 and 106. It is learned that among them, the tension was highest in ward number 96, i.e. in front of the house and party office of the former Trinamool MLA. The CPI-M’s martyrs’ altar in the ward was also attacked.

The miscreants also allegedly threatened the former Trinamool MLA’s elder brother and pushed him to the floor. After this attack, Majumdar’s family said: “We repeatedly called the police and informed them about the incident. The police came after an hour.”

In addition, unrest spread in ward number 101 and ward number 105. It is alleged that fights broke out there too.

A situation was also created in the office of former Trinamool councillor Tarun Mandal. However, local sources claimed that the police rushed in with batons. As a result, the chaos did not spread.

Allegedly, the bike gang has been creating chaos not only in the Jadavpur area but also in Narendrapur in South 24 Parganas district.

Following the incident, both the CPI-M and Trinamool have questioned the role of the police in this entire incident. Allegations have been made against the BJP. However, the party has not commented on this so far.

Majumdar said: “At least 100 people came and vandalised the house. They abused my elder brother. They pushed him. They abused me. I have never seen anything like this in my entire political career. They are all BJP supporters.”

A CPI-M worker said: “They tore the party flags. They abused us. They are telling us not to come here. They are all BJP. They used to be with the Trinamool.”

On September 15, miscreants vandalised several CPIM party offices in the Bali area of Howrah district. The Left had blamed the BJP. However, the BJP denied the allegation. The Dewangazi Zonal Party Office on Panchanantala Road and the party office on Belur Station Road were vandalised.

Last Friday, there were allegations of an attack on the CPI-M party office in Kodalia, ward number 20 of Rajpur-Sonarpur Municipality in South 24 Parganas district. The CPIM alleged that the BJP had vandalised their office.